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Donohue & Associates received
the 2007 Superior Achievement Award from the American
Academy of Environmental Engineers. The award recognizes
the best entry in the Academy's national engineering
excellence competition.
The North Shore Sanitary District’s
new sludge recycling facilities are the first in the
world to convert municipal biosolids into a reusable
glass aggregate. Each day, up to 200 tons of municipal
biosolids are transformed into 7.5 tons of glass aggregate
using an innovative drying and melting process.
This collaborative project between
the District and the design engineer, Donohue & Associates,
Inc. has resulted in the successful implementation of
the most environmentally sound biosolids disposal ever
developed. The glass aggregate has no risk of soil or
groundwater contamination since microorganisms in the
biosolids, such as bacteria and viruses, are destroyed
through the heating processes. Trace metals and other
inorganic materials that may be present are permanently
stabilized within the glass matrix and can not seep into
the environment.
The District has a 20-year agreement to sell the glass
aggregate, which is permitted for use in construction fill,
cement/concrete products, and utility trench fill.
The biosolids drying and melting process offers many benefits
to municipal wastewater treatment systems. These benefits
include eliminating long-term dependence on landfill disposal,
providing residents and local industries with a cost-effective
alternative for managing biosolids, and providing public
agencies with a more comprehensive and integrated approach
to solid waste management.
The attractive building that houses the facilities was
designed to blend into a future business and industrial
park under development in the surrounding area. The glass
aggregate process meets all applicable government regulations
for air quality and solid waste management. To protect
the environment, the facilities have highly effective air
emissions, odor control, and mercury removal systems.
The North Shore Sanitary District provides wastewater
conveyance and treatment to the eastern half of Lake County,
Illinois. The District owns and operates three advanced
wastewater treatment plants serving approximately 350,000
people across 112 square miles.
Donohue has been providing engineering services to the
North Shore Sanitary District since the firm was formed
in 1997.
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