Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing updated, science-backed guidance for the destruction and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The updated interim guidance reflects the most recent data available and is designed to give states, utilities, waste handlers, and local communities the information they need to manage these chemicals safely and protect human health.
“Keeping Americans safe from PFAS exposure is a top priority and a key part of the Trump EPA’s unwavering commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “This updated guidance identifies approaches to manage PFAS waste using the best available gold-standard science, so communities across the country can be confident that these chemicals are being managed, disposed of and destroyed in ways that safeguard their health and their environment.”
PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals that break down very slowly over time. Because of their persistence in the environment, they should be destroyed or disposed of in a safe way that mitigates risks to nearby communities. EPA continuously reviews the latest data on destruction and disposal techniques to identify approaches that best protect human health and the environment. EPA’s updated guidance recommends technologies with the lowest potential for releasing PFAS to the environment based on site-specific conditions, including three existing technologies that stand out for having lower potential for environmental release of PFAS than other technologies:
- Using Class I underground injection wells for long-term waste storage.
- Disposing PFAS in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulated hazardous waste landfills.
- Using hazardous waste combustors that operate under specific conditions to destroy PFAS and minimize harmful byproducts and air emissions.
EPA and other government, academic, and private sector institutions are working simultaneously to advance innovation, develop new technologies and methods, and better understand PFAS destruction. To support these developments, EPA’s updated guidance also includes a new technology evaluation framework to assess the safety and effectiveness of emerging tools. In support of EPA's commitment to unparalleled transparency, the agency encourages technology developers and researchers to generate and publicly release data consistent with the principles of gold-standard science.
EPA will accept comments on the interim guidance for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Comments will be used to help inform a future update of this guidance and can be submitted to the public docket at Regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2020-0527.