“Residuals” refers to solid waste that consists of the accumulated solids and associated liquids which are by-products of a physical, chemical, biological, or mechanical process or any other process designed to treat wastewater or any other discharges subject to regulation under the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10A-1). Residuals include, but are not limited to, marketable residuals product, water treatment residual, industrial sludge, septage, and sewage sludge. Residuals exclude screened vegetative waste, process wastewater, leachate, and grit and screenings.

Residuals generated by domestic and industrial treatment works may be managed in a variety of ways. Marketable Residual Products (MRPs) are derived from domestic sewage sludge, such as pellets, compost, and alkaline materials often referred to as “biosolids.” Other MRPs include food processing residuals and water treatment residuals. Beneficial use of residual as a fertilizer or soil conditioner is regulated under a New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit, which may require site specific approvals, depending upon the nature of the residual. Other management alternatives for residual may include landfill alternative daily cover, incineration, land application, and/or landfill disposal options. However, please note that no domestic sewage sludge may be landfilled in New Jersey.  While residual managed in other states is regulated by the receiving state, the NJ generator must demonstrate to the Department compliance with the receiving state’s rules and regulations.

The residuals permitting program regulates residual management activities of domestic and industrial treatment works along with certain entities that accept residuals for the purpose of transportation, storage, transfer, further processing, and/or ultimate management. Oversight and regulation of residuals occurs through the implementation of the Sludge Quality Assurance Regulations (SQAR, N.J.A.C 7:14C) and the NJPDES regulations. SQAR requires all residual generators to test their residuals and report the results to the Department on a regular basis. This data is available to assure compliance with the appropriate residuals management alternatives. SQAR also requires residual generators to submit monitoring report forms to indicate the quantity generated and the  location of the management site utilized. Program responsibilities include oversight of Statewide Sludge Management Plan (a component of the Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan), New Jersey’s Sludge Quality Assurance Regulations, and the Standards for the Use or Disposal of Residuals.