Aerated static pile – a compost pile placed on perforated piping, to provide air circulation for controlled aeration.
Aerobic digestion – the controlled decomposition of organic matter found in sludge by bacteria in an oxygen-rich environment.
Agronomic rate – the additional amount of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) required to meet the expected crop requirements after considering the nutrients currently available in the soil.
Anaerobic digestion – the controlled decomposition of organic matter found in sludge by bacteria in the absence of oxygen.
Bio-energy – energy produced from living or recently living plants or animals. Please find more information in this fact sheet (PDF).
Biomass – for purposes of renewable energy projects, biomass is organic matter, other than source separated organics, that is available on a natural renewable basis and that is derived from a plant, animal or micro-organism, and any product made of such organic matter (see O. Reg. 160/99).
Biosolids – a generic term that refers to sewage and pulp-and-paper residuals as well as other materials containing nutrients and organic matter.
Brownfield – an abandoned, idle, or under-utilized industrial and commercial property, where the previous use has caused environmental contamination. Brownfield lands may need to be cleaned up before they can be redeveloped.
Certificates of Approval – approvals granted by the Ministry of the Environment to facilities that release emissions to the atmosphere, discharge contaminants to ground and surface water, provide potable water supplies, or store, transport, process or dispose of waste. Proponents of these types of activities are required to obtain Ministry of the Environment approval to ensure that the environment will not be adversely affected. Learn more about Certificates of Approval.
Effluent – the treated and disinfected liquid approved by the Ministry of the Environment for discharge from a water or wastewater treatment plant into the natural environment.
Fluidized bed combustion – a combustion technology often used in power plants. Fluidized beds suspend solid fuels (e.g., sewage sludge or biosolids) on upward-blowing jets of air during the combustion process. The result is a turbulent mixing of gas and solids. The tumbling action, much like a bubbling fluid, provides more effective chemical reactions and heat transfer.
Gasification – a process that decomposes organic material into hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a high temperature in the presence of a limited amount of oxygen that is insufficient to fully combust the material. The gas can be cleaned and used for production of chemicals or burned to recover its energy content in the form of steam and/ or electricity.
In-vessel composting – a method of composting in which the organic matter undergoes composting in enclosed reactors (metal tanks or concrete bunkers where air flow and temperature can be controlled).
Non-agricultural source materials (NASM) – includes yard waste, fruit and vegetable peels, food processing waste, pulp and paper biosolids and sewage biosolids. See our NASM section for more information.
Pathogens – a general term for biological agents that cause disease or illness to its host (e.g., bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and prions).
Pelletization – a thermal and mechanical process that results in sewage sludge or biosolids being dried to approximately 95 per cent dry matter and formed into pellets or pellet-like material.
Personal care products – manufactured products used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons (e.g. shampoo, toothpaste, lip balm, perfume).
Prion – an infectious particle, which is the agent responsible for scrapie, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system.
Protozoa – micro-organisms, which live off of plant or animal hosts and cause disease.
Pulp and paper biosolids – solid or semi-solid residue from the treatment of wastewater from a manufacturer of pulp and paper, recycled paper or products including corrugated cardboard.
Pyrolysis – a process which uses heat in the absence of air or oxygen in a chamber to decompose organic materials into products such as oil, gas and solid char material.
Sewage – wastewater from residential, industrial, institutional and commercial sources.
Sewage biosolids – stabilized sewage sludge with significantly reduced odours, pathogens and containing nutrients and other constituents in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of the Environment.
Sludge – a mixture of solids and liquid (slurry) resulting from the treatment of wastewater at wastewater treatment plants.
Stabilization – the process used to reduce biological activity, and therefore reduce harmful bacteria and odours, in sludge during the process of producing biosolids. Typically, stabilization is accomplished through aerobic or anaerobic digestion.
Syngas – a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
Thermophilic – a period in the composting process characterized by the predominance of active micro-organisms which thrive at a temperature range of 45°C to 75°C.
Thermal treatment – includes incineration, gasification or pyrolysis.
Volatile solids/Volatile organic acids – organic chemical compounds that may be partially biodegradable or the products of biodegradation during aerobic or anaerobic digestion.
Windrow composting – the production of compost in which organic material undergoes composting in long mounded rows.
