• working with communities on testing for PFAS in surface waters and sludge from wastewater treatment plants
• policies and regulations to prevent contamination of lands and waters by PFAS in sludge and biosolids

PFAS are extremely toxic at very small concentrations, entirely man made, do not exist in nature, worse than dioxin, and virtually impossible to destroy. They survive conventional waste treatment technologies and do not break down into harmless compounds. in nature.   They have contaminated drinking water sources and foods and are found in the blood of virtually all Americans. 

Development of technologies to destroy dangerous PFAS compounds has been an important goal for research for a considerable time.  Different technologies have been identified.  All need to be fully and objectively vetted.

It is Sierra Club's position that incineration is not a safe disposal method for PFAS.  

There has been significant investment in research on incineration technologies for PFAS. One entity known as Clean Harbors has been engaged with agencies and others in evaluations.  They have recently concluded that their technology provides adequate destruction of PFAS to be used.  Their report is available at this link.  They claim that it achieves 99.9999% destruction of PFAS.  This requires careful evaluation.  

KEY ISSUES

PFAS wastes from wastewater treatment plants and solid waste facilities including PFAS in "biosolids" from wastewater treatment plants used in products for farms and gardens or  discharged to farmlands and recreational lands;

State actions to reduce uses and releases of PFAS;

Local monitoring projects to identify PFAS in surface waters and sewage sludge.