Forest Management Certification

Standard ISO 17088
Plastics — Organic recycling — Specifications for compostable plastics

Solid waste management is of growing interest worldwide. Cities and countries are trying to dispose of fewer and fewer substances (landfill and incineration without energy recovery) by finding various recovery solutions to transform waste into usable products. Plastics recovery technologies include material recovery (mechanical recycling, chemical recycling or feedstock recycling and biological or organic recycling) and energy recovery in the form of usable heat under controlled combustion conditions.

For consumers, it is difficult to differentiate between compostable and non-compostable products, and to know whether certain products will not alter the quality of their compost. Designed with this in mind, BNQ certification leaves no doubt. Products certified according to two new certification programs, based on the requirements of two international standards, i.e., ISO 17088 and ISO 18606, provide a framework not only for plastics or products made from plastics, but also for other products (cardboard, packaging, etc.) that can be certified as compostable.

The requirements of the standards relate in particular to the following aspects:

a) disintegration during composting;
b) aerobic biodegradation;
c) absence of negative effects of the compost on terrestrial organisms and plant growth;
d) regulated metals and other substances;
e) volatile solids.

Standard BNQ 3682-850
Structures for Absorbing Wells for Residential Use – Prefabricated structure - Size and physical properties

Waste water treatment relies on structures that demand a solid, effective and safe design. For that reason, the BNQ developed a series of standards governing septic tanks, holding tanks and absorbing wells. BNQ 3682-850 applies in particular to absorbing wells used for detached dwelling waste water treatment. It specifies the size and physical properties of the prefabricated structure for absorbing wells for residential use in concrete, fiberglass reinforced polyester or polyethylene.

Standard NQ 3680-910
Wastewater Treatment - Stand-Alone Wastewater Treatment Systems for Isolated Dwellings

The challenge for persons living in isolated dwellings is to establish an effective system for managing water, particularly wastewater. For this purpose, stand-alone wastewater treatment systems have been developed and must meet specific requirements governing their reliability and conformity to municipal bylaws. The BNQ has therefore developed the NQ 3680-910 standard. This standard establishes the performance requirements applicable to stand-alone wastewater treatment systems for isolated dwellings and specifies the test methods used to verify their performance conformity against the requirements established by regulatory authorities.

It applies only to wastewater treatment systems for isolated dwellings and not to the systems of buildings attached to them.

Standard CAN/BNQ 3680-600
Onsite Domestic Wastewater Treatment Technologies

The challenge for people living in isolated dwellings is to install an effective water management system, particularly for wastewater. For this purpose, there exist onsite domestic wastewater treatment systems that must meet precise requirements in terms of reliability and comply with municipal regulations. The BNQ therefore developed a National Standard of Canada, CAN/BNQ 3680-600, for onsite domestic wastewater treatment systems. It includes a performance and seasonal reliability test carried out over 360 days to ensure that each onsite domestic wastewater treatment system supplied with influent wastewater meeting known criteria produces a treated effluent that complies with the requirements applicable to its classification throughout the four distinct seasons in Canada.

CAN/BNQ 3680-600 establishes the performance requirements for onsite domestic wastewater treatment systems used for treating wastewater from isolated dwellings and specifies the test methods used to verify performance conformity to the requirements established by regulatory authorities.

The standard applies to onsite domestic wastewater treatment systems only, and excludes any system designed exclusively for the treatment of blackwater or greywater. It does not cover the potential or capability of an onsite domestic wastewater treatment system to treat effluent from drinking water treatment systems or devices, or backwash water from swimming pools or spas.