Proposed $56-million facility might make Sault’s poop less smelly

City councillors will be asked Monday to give approval in principle to a $56-million biosolids and source-separated organics facility.

Biosolids are organic fertilizer made from food and excrement in wastewater from residential, industrial and commercial sources.

They are treated to reduce the presence of potentially harmful micro-organisms and odours.

If approved, the new facility will be built at the city landfill on Fifth Line. 

The $56-million estimated cost is up considerably from the $40.7 million projected in the city's 2024 budget.

"As design progressed and inflationary pressures were included, the estimates were significantly higher," said Catherine Taddo, the city's manager of development and environmental engineering.

"$45 million (80 per cent) will be covered by the sanitary sewer fund, and $11 million (20 per cent) will be drawn from the waste management reserve," Taddo said.

"Final costs will be refined as the design reaches 90 per cent completion and through the tendering process."

In a report prepared for Monday's city council meeting, Taddo says the following steps have been taken to reduce the project costs:

• eliminating the fabric canopy from bunkers
• revising the receiving building design
• using city staff for site clearing, excavation, and servicing
• reducing scope of mobile equipment procurement

Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.