The Brunig/EnviroServ Process

Working towards the 2001 Polokwane Declaration’s “zero waste to landfill” goal by 2022, productive uses for waste must be explored and developed.

Brunig Compost Processors started in 1996 by Ray Preston, JP Melck and Bill O’Reilly was developed to process sewage sludge (biosolids) from sewage water treatment works into a useful product. In order to “compost” the sludge the Vissershok farm was proposed and necessary permits were obtained. In order to process the biosolids, co-operation with the sewage water treatment works was needed to produce a sludge which could be transported efficiently and adequate to compost to remove pathogens.

EnviroServ purchased a shareholding in Brunig Compost Processors in March 2004.

Brunig manufactures from the biosolids a high quality micro, macro and organic nutrient rich compost as land spreading is no longer a feasible method to utilise the biosolids. In addition to the composting process Brunig and EnviroServ developed an innovative process for the manufacture of a pelletised product. These pellets can be used as an agricultural organic fertiliser. Brunig over the years has also developed a method to compost primary as well as secondary sludge.

The advantages of pelletising the compost are: • Decrease in transport costs • The biosolids are pasteurised for a third time in the pelletising process making sure all pathogens are killed • Chemical additives can be added to the pellets to meet specific nutrient demands by clients • The pellets can be spread by a standard agricultural seed spreader, making handling a lot easier and they can be planted with the seeds giving the germinating seeds an instant and continuous supply of nutrients • They release their micro, macro and organic nutrients slowly into the soil preventing most of the nutrients being washed away

South Africa’s demand for food is increasing, the urgency for a solution to sewage sludge is increasing and the need for organic fertiliser is also increasing as farms desperately need to replenish the lost organic content in their soil. South Africa’s precious beaches are in trouble because of out-dated sewage sludge practices. So we aim to tackle all these issues with one solution, by expanding The Brunig/EnviroServ Process to the rest of South Africa.

With EnviroServ’s natural ability to exceed expectations; we are in the process of finalising the roll-out of the model in Namibia. Patent applications have been submitted for the process.

The Brunig/EnviroServ Process makes that famous saying “One man’s waste is another man’s gold” sound so much more significant.

by Ryan Hendry
Project Manager, EnviroServ Strategic Growth

EnviroServ key services

Transportation and disposal of hazardous waste
On-Site waste management
Hazardous spill response
Alternative to landfill, recycling, AFR, beneficiation and bioremediation
www.enviroserv.co.za