PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are among the most persistent and complex contaminants facing environmental decision-makers today. Federal and state agencies need clear, science-based guidance to safely manage the destruction and disposal of PFAS-containing materials, which pose persistent environmental and health risks. In response to Congressional direction, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed interim guidance to help identify effective technologies for destroying or disposing of PFAS-containing materials, such as aqueous film-forming foam, contaminated media, and non-consumer textiles. Updating this guidance in 2024 required synthesizing new scientific findings, incorporating stakeholder feedback, and evaluating the environmental and public health implications of large-scale PFAS management technologies, including thermal treatment, landfilling, and underground injection.

ERG supported EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management in developing both the 2020 and 2024 editions of the Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS and Materials Containing PFAS. Our team helped shape the guidance by refining its structure, authoring technical content on destruction technologies, and synthesizing feedback from the public, EPA’s PFAS Workgroup, and federal agencies. We facilitated internal workgroup coordination, supported workgroup discussions, and conducted supplemental research and editorial review to deliver technically sound guidance that supports federal and state decision-makers in managing PFAS-contaminated materials.