PFAS

US Composting Council Releases Positioning and Guidance Statement on PFAS

The US Composting Council, on behalf of an industry facing detrimental economic impacts from per- fluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) found in all consumer products, is calling for bans on the use of the chemicals and immediate research to study their impacts on plant uptake. The document notes the negative impact of PFAS, used historically in everyday materials, such as cookware, cosmetics, packaging, and outdoor clothing, have on compost manufacturers. The composting industry is the passive receiver of the chemicals through the products brought into facilities through food waste, biosolids and to a lesser extent, green waste. Read More

PFAS or per-fluoroalkyl compounds are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. Many PFAS break down very slowly and can accumulate in people, animals, soil, and the environment over time. To learn more about PFAs visit the EPA website here.