The city is looking for someone to handle all aspects of its biosolids program, from choosing appropriate locations to the actual application of the raw sewage treatment byproduct.
According to provincial legislation, the city has to find "beneficial uses" for its biosolids, said wastewater supervisor Gina Layte-Liston. The material can't be stored indefinitely or put into landfill, so it's used as a fertilizer on agricultural and siviculture lands, as well as in gravel pit and road reclamation projects.
The wastewater treatment facility on Lansdowne Road produces about 3,000 tonnes of biosolids - which have physical properties similar to manure or a moist soil - annually.
The city is looking for an applicant to carry out a 10-year contract.
"Looking at a long-term contract, you can look at the best way of spending the city's budget," said Layte-Liston, who added that currently the budget varies on a yearly basis depending on where material is being applied.
According to the province's Organic Matter Recycling Regulation, the material produced by the Prince George plant is categorized as Class B, which means it can only be applied to sites with restricted public access where the groundwater table at the time of application is within one metre of the surface.
Among the provisions in the request for proposal are the requirements for spill reporting - they must be reported to the city within one hour - and neighbour notification - at least two weeks in advance of transportation and hauling.
The bid closes Sept. 10, with the contract scheduled to start by Oct. 1.
