Principal Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., North Carolina
Abstract Description: Regulatory drivers affecting POTWs for wastewater biosolids disposal and landfills for leachate management. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how federal regulations on PFAS are affecting wastewater management and landfill operations, and what solutions are available for complying with discharge limitations, impacts to the public, cost implications, and what discussions will benefit POTWs and landfills. . Following a summary review of regulations, discussions of policies for accepting PFAS -laden waste streams will focus on significant environmental, health, and regulatory challenges. As awareness of the long-term risks of PFAS contamination grows, policymakers are considering a variety of regulatory and management approaches to ensure the safe disposal of PFAS-laden waste, and landfills are looking to risk reduction planning. Below are some options for managing PFAS waste streams at POTWs and landfills, Including opportunities, roles, and benefits of each include: 1. Stringent Waste Classification and Landfill Permitting 2. Landfill Design and Operational Requirements 3. Leachate Treatment and PFAS Capture 4. Enhanced Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for increased Monitoring of PFAS in discharges and groundwater: 5. Incentives for PFAS Destruction Technologies 6. PFAS Waste Diversion Targets and Waste Minimization 7. Landfill Ban on PFAS-Laden Waste 8. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for PFAS-Containing Products 9. Partnering between Utilities for Leachate Treatment and PFAS Removal 10. Managing Used Activated Carbon and Single use Ion Exchange Residuals from Water Treatment 11. Providing Educational Resources and Leadership
Conclusion: Wastewater Operators, Landfill Managers, and Policymakers have various options to safely manage the disposal of PFAS-laden waste streams each with trade-offs in terms of cost, environmental protection, and implementation feasibility. The ideal approach may involve a combination of these policies, such as stricter PFAS destruction will require safer and more sustainable waste management. As PFAS regulations evolve, balancing economic considerations with the long-term environmental and public health risks will be needed.
