Hollywood commissioners question joining regional biosolids facility while staff warns land‑application is closing

At the Feb. 18 workshop, staff told the commission that permitted land application sites for biosolids have declined and that state legislative proposals and EPA attention to PFAS are increasing pressure to change disposal practices. "We either need to buy into that facility or lose our place in that facility," Vin Morello said, urging early participation in a regional biosolids facility to share costs and preserve disposal options.

Phyllis Shaw and others noted recently active bills and regulatory attention to biosolids. Staff emphasized that some land application pathways are closing (permitted sites dropped from about 140 in 2019 to 58) and that federal/state action could soon require alternative disposal such as drying/landfill or incineration.

Several commissioners pushed back, noting that Hollywood already produces Class A biosolids and asked whether the city should invest large buy‑in sums to help others catch up. Commissioner Hernandez said the city has previously invested to produce Class A material and requested staff analysis of current disposal costs, what Hollywood contributes in kind, and alternative scenarios (e.g., investing more in the city plant for drying/incineration capability or negotiating a differentiated buy‑in rate because Hollywood already has Class A production).

Staff response: staff acknowledged Hollywood currently produces Class A biosolids and said draft ILAs for the county‑led regional facility exist; they recommended returning with a detailed ILA analysis that compares current disposal costs, projected tipping fees and buy‑in tradeoffs so the commission can compare joining the regional approach versus investing further in city capacity. Staff also warned that waiting could forfeit the city’s opportunity to secure preferred terms or capacity in the regional project.

Next steps: the commission asked staff to include Hernandez’s concerns and comparative cost data in the staff analysis before any decision to join the regional ILA, and to return with an explicit cost/benefit assessment including anticipated tipping fees and buy‑in amounts.