Meeting virtually Tuesday November 17, the River Falls Common Council and the Utility Advisory Board got together to see if it made sense to continue with the current waste processing arrangement or if changing things up to go it alone might be better.

“The reason we’re getting together is to see if it makes sense to extend our contract to 2040,” River Falls Kevin Westhuis said Monday of the 15-year contract extension sought by the West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility (WCWBF), with a five-year notice recommended if communities decide not to renew their contracts with the local consortium. Westhuis said the City of River Falls is an 18 ½ percent owner and a charter member, with 21 communities total being partners in the agreement. But River Falls?

“I’m not sure where the Council wants to go,” Westhuis said, saying that he would give the facts “and we’ll see where it goes.” Dependent on the outcome of the November 17 meeting the City of River Falls may be changing the way it handles its biosolid waste. Currently the WCWBF uses a process of lime stabilization to treat biosolids, but this puts limits on what the product can be used for, including as fertilizer. As a result the WCWBF is looking into new waste processing technology like belt presses to treat member communities biosolids, although according to a report previously contracted by the City with Strand Engineering a paddle drying option would be the most cost effective.

“It’s a different way to dry the product and get a different end product,” Westhuis said of the sludge drying option versus lime stabilization. The outcome of the joint City Council-UAB meeting was unknown at press time.