Cannabis Industry

Cultivation and Plant Growing Operations

Businesses growing cannabis plants for processing into consumer products:

• Nitrates
• Phosphorus
• Pesticides
• Fungicides

Prohibitions:

• Pesticides or plant growing chemicals may interfere with the operations of the wastewater treatment plant. Substances that may cause interference are prohibited from being discharged to the sanitary sewer system per AMC 10.06.010(1).

Cannabinoid Extraction

Business involved in the extraction of active ingredients from plant material.

• Various solvents used to extract oils from cannabis plants.

Gaseous solvents like carbon dioxide, propane or butane cannot be introduced into wastewater, so they are not regulated by the City of Albany.

Liquid solvents and alcohols are regulated. Alcohols, while flammable, dissolve in water are biodegradable at the wastewater treatment plant. In small quantities, alcohols do not present a hazard.

Prohibitions:

• Hexane partitions in wastewater and is highly flammable, which presents a hazard. Hexane is prohibited from being discharged to the sanitary sewer system.

Food Production with Cannabinoid Oils

• Fats
• Oils
• Grease
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Fats, oils and greases can block sewers and cause sewage backups and overflows.

More concentrated wastewater pollutants including BOD and TSS are considered “extra strength” wastewater which costs more for the treatment plant to treat. Businesses often pay increased wastewater rates, as a result.

Cannabis Dispensaries

Currently there are no known pollutants of concern specific to this aspect of the industry.

Cultivation and Plant Growing Operations

• Control chemical use and optimize nutrients and biocides application or dosing to minimize chemical waste.
• Eliminate sewer entry points. Do not install drains or sumps in cultivation rooms. This may not be possible for hydroponic facilities due to high water usage.
• All chemicals must be stored in a manner, method and location that ensures that there is no threat of discharge to the sanitary sewer or stormwater systems. Store all chemicals on secondary containment.
• Have a written spill procedure plant posted in areas where spills may occur. Train all employees when hired and annually thereafter on how to respond to a spill and the appropriate clean up methods.
• Comply with all pesticide laws and regulations as enforced by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Cannabinoid Extraction

• Employ closed loop systems. These extraction systems minimize the amount of product and chemicals that can be discharged in wastewater.
• All chemicals must be stored in a manner, method and location that ensures that there is no threat of discharge to the sanitary sewer or stormwater systems. Eliminate all floor drains and store all chemicals on secondary containment.
• Train all employees to not pour toxic, corrosive, or flammable chemicals down sinks, toilets, or floor drains. Post signs by drains to remind employees not to dispose of these substances in the sanitary sewer system.
• Hire a certified waste hauler to properly dispose of spent waste.
• Have a written spill procedure plant posted in areas where spills may occur. Train all employees when hired and annually thereafter on how to respond to a spill and the appropriate clean up methods.

Food Production with Cannabinoid Oils

• Install and maintain grease removal devices per Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code and City of Albany Code AMC 10.06.080(3)
• Establishments that are designated by the City to be significant dischargers may need to install a monitoring access structure and would be required to apply for an Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit. AMC 10.06.030(58)(iii)