City authorizes six‑month trial to accept Wyoming biosolids at Grand Rapids recovery facility

The Grand Rapids City Commission on Oct. 21 authorized a six‑month trial agreement allowing the city to accept municipal wastewater sludge (biosolids) from the city of Wyoming into Grand Rapids’ concentrated waste digester at the Water Resource Recovery Facility.

Jared Gervinski, environmental services staff, said the trial is intended to test whether Wyoming’s sludge produces positive biogas yields in Grand Rapids’ digester. “We would like to accept the municipal sludge from city of Wyoming, into our concentrated waste digester as an alternative feedstock,” he said, adding the pilot will determine whether equipment changes are needed to process thicker sludge streams. If the trial yields positive biogas production, staff said the city would install pumps and piping changes to allow longer-term acceptance and return to the commission with updates.

Staff said the arrangement has been retroactive to Sept. 1 while the parties prepared the written agreement. Gervinski explained that Wyoming has faced constraints on land application of biosolids and Grand Rapids currently sends its biosolids to landfill; the trial takes a portion of Wyoming’s solids while Grand Rapids evaluates capital needs needed to accept higher volumes. The commission discussed beneficial reuse pathways for biosolids — composting with municipal food-scrap streams, biosolids drying, and biochar — and staff said they are researching sustainable reuse options but have not yet finalized a capital plan.

The resolution passed on a voice vote. Staff said a later capital request may be needed if the city chooses to modify equipment for long‑term acceptance.