Improved NASM Framework for Food Processing Wash-Water and Solid Residuals

Work is on-going gathering information on non-agriculture source materials (NASM) to identify any knowledge gaps and limitations of the current data base within Ontario. Currently, Category 2 NASM (waste and wash-water from processed fruits and vegetables) and Category 3 NASM (including dairies and abattoirs) have stringent requirements that need to be followed under Ontario Regulation 267/03. Processors are suggesting that the regulations are overly burdensome for smaller facilities considering land application due to the sampling and reporting requirements. Current NASM documentation and sampling requirements have agri-food processors retain NASM plan developers with annual fees up to $25,000 per year. For small to medium sized food processors, these costs can be restrictive and can limit the growth of the respective industries. Overall, this project looks to address the food industry and government concerns on cost effective disposal of NASM materials, while making suitable soil amendments more available. NASM information is being collected and reviewed from jurisdictions world-wide to compare against Ontario’s database for a comprehensive analysis on the management of wash-waters and solid residuals. Comparisons using GIS will be shown for visualization purposes, identifying potential improvements of Ontario’s regulatory framework, allowing the agri-food sector to grow economically while still protecting public interest. Additionally, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is being finalized on a representative agri-food processor to help highlight additional improvements that can be made to Ontario’s framework.