Project Models & Public-Private Partnerships
Learn how Public-Private Partnerships can help municipalities deliver advanced biosolids infrastructure while keeping public ownership, reducing operational burden, and creating long-term community value.Public Ownership. Private Expertise. Shared Results.
Advanced biosolids infrastructure does not have to fall entirely on the public partner. Merrell Bros. helps municipalities evaluate project models that combine public oversight with private-sector engineering, operating experience, technology, and accountability.
The goal is simple: help communities move complex biosolids projects forward with less operational burden, stronger long-term planning, and better beneficial reuse outcomes.
Biosolids infrastructure is becoming harder to fund, operate, and plan alone.
Municipalities are facing rising disposal costs, shrinking outlets, landfill pressure, odor concerns, and changing regulatory expectations. Many communities need a better path, but advanced treatment infrastructure can be complex to design, build, finance, and operate.
The ownership stays public. The burden gets shared.
A Public-Private Partnership allows the public partner to keep ownership, oversight, and long-term benefit while leveraging Merrell Bros.’ design, construction, operating expertise, and patented treatment technology.
A Smarter Partnership Model for Modern Biosolids Infrastructure
A Public-Private Partnership gives municipalities a way to implement advanced biosolids treatment and reuse systems with greater confidence, shared accountability, and a clearer path to long-term performance.
Public Partner
Owner, host, and long-term beneficiary
- Owns the Class AA facility from day one of commercial operations and retains long-term control, standards, and direction.
- Receives treatment capacity for current and projected biosolids volumes.
- Maintains public oversight while reducing the day-to-day operational burden typically associated with advanced processing systems.
- Benefits from a structured partnership model designed to support long-term planning, compliance confidence, and community value.
Merrell Bros.
Designer, builder, and operator
- Designs and constructs the facility through a collaborative project delivery approach tailored to the municipality’s goals.
- Provides the operating expertise, process know-how, and patented treatment technology required for successful implementation.
- Operates and helps maintain the facility on the public partner’s behalf under a defined performance-based structure.
- Supports long-term system performance, operational accountability, and beneficial reuse outcomes.
Designed for Today’s Volumes and Tomorrow’s Growth
Solar-Thermal Pasteurization facilities can be planned around current biosolids volumes, projected growth, and available regional capacity. That creates a long-term solution for the host community while opening the door to shared regional value.
Capacity That Works Harder
A municipality may produce around 10,000 wet tons per year today and project growth to 25,000 wet tons per year over time. Instead of designing only for today’s demand, Merrell Bros. can evaluate a larger facility concept capable of handling up to 50,000 wet tons per year.
That extra capacity gives the host community room to grow while allowing nearby counties or utilities to use available capacity. Those neighboring partners can pay a host fee per wet ton delivered, helping offset the host community’s cost of capital and long-term facility investment.
The host community’s volumes come first.
If future growth increases demand, the host facility can prioritize its own biosolids before accepting outside material.
Example Capacity Planning Model
Ownership, capacity, regulatory hedge, host-fee revenue, and long-term infrastructure value.
A Public-Private Partnership can create more than a treatment solution. It can give the host community long-term control, guaranteed capacity, and a stronger position for future growth.
Day-one ownership
Asset on public books from commercial operations. Standards, hours, and direction remain with the public partner.
Guaranteed capacity
Capacity can be planned around current and projected volumes through the initial term and future planning window.
Regulatory hedge
Class AA today, future-ready tomorrow. The host community gains a stronger position as policy direction evolves.
Host-fee revenue
Non-host tons can pay the public partner a per-ton host fee, helping offset a portion of facility investment.
Land and asset value
Project structure can be designed to support long-term infrastructure value for the host community.
Local jobs preserved
Projects can create a pathway for experienced personnel to support the operating team at the new facility.
Flexible Project Models for Municipalities and Utilities
Every community has different goals, infrastructure, budget pressures, and operating needs. Merrell Bros. helps evaluate the right delivery model for each project.
A Clear Path From Evaluation to Operation
A successful project starts with understanding the facility, the goals, the volumes, and the long-term plan. From there, Merrell Bros. helps shape the right model.
Evaluate
Review solids volume, current dewatering, odor concerns, hauling costs, site conditions, and goals.
Model
Compare capacity, cost exposure, regional opportunity, product handling, and project structure.
Structure
Define ownership, oversight, responsibilities, performance expectations, and operating approach.
Build
Design and construct a facility tailored to the community’s process, site, and future demand.
Operate
Support performance, maintenance, product handling, beneficial reuse, and long-term accountability.
Questions Municipal Leaders Usually Ask
Does a Public-Private Partnership mean the public partner gives up control?
No. The intent is the opposite. The public partner keeps ownership, oversight, and long-term benefit while Merrell Bros. helps reduce complexity through technology, delivery, operations, and performance support.
Can the project be designed around future growth?
Yes. Facility concepts can be evaluated around current volumes, projected growth, and possible regional acceptance capacity. The host community’s needs come first.
How can regional capacity help the host community?
If a facility has available capacity beyond the host community’s needs, nearby partners may be able to use that capacity and pay a host fee per wet ton delivered. That can help offset long-term facility costs.
Is a PPP the only project model?
No. Merrell Bros. can help evaluate several models, including design and build support, operations partnerships, Public-Private Partnerships, and regional biosolids facilities.
Where should a municipality start?
The best starting point is a facility evaluation. That includes current dewatering method, wet tons or dry tons produced, hauling costs, disposal risks, odor concerns, available space, regulatory goals, and desired end product.
Ready to Explore the Right Project Model?
If your community is facing rising disposal costs, landfill pressure, odor concerns, growth, or long-term uncertainty, Merrell Bros. can help evaluate a project model that fits your facility and your future.
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