PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a diverse group of chemicals that include PFCAs, PFOA, PFSAs, PFHxS, and thousands of others. These chemicals have been in commercial production since the 1950s and are now widely used in consumer and industrial applications. One characteristic of PFAS is their persistence in the environment, as they are extremely resistant to degradation. PFAS have emerged as contaminants of global concern because of their potential to accumulate in the human body and food chains. On 12-13 February 2024, a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and academics came together to discuss various topics related to PFAS. These topics covered areas such as country risk management approaches, innovation challenges for finding safer alternatives, effective risk communication strategies, monitoring techniques, waste management, and approaches to managing contamination.

1. Disposal &
incineration of pfas
waste
OECD Global forum on pfas
Nicolas HUMEZ

2. 3900
+110 facilities
in 10
European
countries
+ 10 MT
treated/y
Waste
streams from
all continents
Leader in Europe in terms of treatment facilities
But a worldwide activity

3. disclaimer
The information contained in this statement is based on the Veolia group's
understanding and know-how of the scientific and technical fields discussed
herein as of the time of publication. Statements that may be interpreted as
predictive of future outcomes or performance should not be considered
guarantees of such, but rather reasoned assessments of the possible evolution
of the technologies described.
As this document is based on the state of the Veolia group's scientific,
technical, and regulatory knowledge at the time of its publication, the
completeness and accuracy of the information contained herein cannot be
guaranteed.
Descriptions contained herein apply exclusively to those examples and/or to
the general situations specifically referenced, and in no event should be
considered to apply to specific scenarios without prior review and validation.

4. In which environment we can
work efficiently?

5. Regulations worldwide
2002
2015 2017
USEPA
restriction on
long-chain PFAS
EU REACH
restriction
PFOA & PFOS
USEPA :
1st DW health
advisory:
- PFOS: 200 ng/l
- PFOA: 400 ng⁄L
Northern Europe
countries define
limits for PFAS in DW
Denmark,
Norway and
Sweden adopt
limits for PFAS in
DW, GW, soil &
sludge
USEPA DW advisory update:
- PFOS: 70 ng⁄L
- PFOA: 70 ng⁄L
- 70 ng⁄L combined PFOA
and PFOS
Australia defines limits for
DW & recreational water
Canada issues guidelines for
DW
2006
2009 2016
Maine sludge
limits for
landspreading due
to PFAS concern
⇒ Ban in 04/2022
US states start
defining specific
DW and GW
standards.
EU defines new
directive on DW that
restrict 20 PFAS <0,1
µg/l
And total PFAS <0,5
µg/l enforced in 2026
2019
USEPA incineration of
AFFF ban in NY and
illinois, pending for
Pennsylvania and
Washington
USEPA issues
guidances values for
PFAS in GW as low as
10 ng/l for PFOS and
PFOA
PFOA banned in
the EU
2020
2021
USEPA 4 PFAS
added to the Toxics
Release Inventory
Canada,
Netherlands: limits
for some PFAS in
soil and sludges
More stringent limits
in Denmark
2022
Germany and
Belgium adopt
limits for PFAS in
soil and sludge
USEPA (2024)
Final rule for
CERCLA, RTK,
TESC, TRI
USEPA Effluent Guidelines
Program Plan 15 include
PFAS discharges limits from
multiple industrial categories
2023
USEPA proposal of DW
regulatory limits to include
GENX and other short-chain
PFAS
- PFOS: 4,0 ng⁄L
- PFOA: 4,0 ng⁄L
- GenX, PFBS, PFNA,
PFHxS : Hazard Index of 1
ECHA Global PFAS
restriction proposal
Canada issues more
restrictive guidelines for DW
at 30 ng/l for total PFAS
Water Soil & Biosolids Waste
1974 2005 2017 2021 2022
% g/L mg/L µg/L ng/L
PFAS awareness in

6. How to manage
pfas waste?

7. All PFAS waste
Low to high contamination
PFAS liquid waste
Low contamination
Dedicated Incineration
950°C + specific conditions
Water based liquid waste
treatments
Flue gases Solid Waste
Concentrates Sludges
Contaminated AC
Neutralisation & Filtration
Stabilisation/Solidification
APC residues
Water
bodies
or
Reuse
AC Reactivation
PFAS contaminated soils
Hazardous Waste Landfills
Industry & Recycling Sector Contaminated Sites
On site / Off site treatments
Treated water
Water Sludges
Treated air
Atmosphere
Treated soils
Soils
Reuse
AC
Reuse
Mostly Zero Discharge but if not,
leachates are treated accordingly
as PFAS liquid waste if needed
Shall
respect
specific
ELVs (see
table
above)
Shall
respect
the levels
defined
for reuse
Shall respect
the levels to
be defined for
discharge or
reuse
Shall respect
technical levels
depending on
reuse

8. What still need
to be done?

9. Impose Transparency & Traceability
Speed-up Standardization
Phase down ELVs (air, water & soils)
PFAS Regulation ≈ POP Regulation
TITLE

10. Thank you very much for your attention
Nicolas Humez
Strategy, Performance & Innovation Dept Director
nhumez@sarpindustries.fr