Arkansas Business

“With the dryers, that number dropped by more than 50 percent in the first half of 2012,” saving the city $336,000 since May 2011, he said.

Drying the biosolids also reduces space in landfills, Tran said.

“Across the United States, landfill capacity is diminishing and alternative disposal methods are becoming much more important,” he said. “Fayetteville is ahead of the curve.”

Since the dried biosolids have been approved by the Arkansas State Plant Board to be used as fertilizer, the city has been selling it to farmers and residents.

In March, approximately 250 tons of biosolids, at approximately $15 a ton, were sold to the public, Tran said. He said there is a waiting list of people wanting to buy the fertilizer, which is another benefit to the environment.

The biosolids help improve soil nutrients and enhance the soil.

“Enriched soil may provide better yields and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers,” Tran said.

Tran said other Arkansas cities could follow Fayetteville’s blueprint, but they could save money by not installing both solar and thermal dryers or by reducing the number of dryers installed.

“Every city has wastewater that needs to be treated,” Tran said. “By drying the biosolids, cities can provide a benefit product to their communities while also reducing their operational costs and helping the environment.”