Persistent Pollutants in US Recycled Organics and Fertilizers
We thank the Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management for funding the Florida chapter of this study.
Principal Investigator:
John A. Bowden, PhD, Associate Professor, [email protected], College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida
Co-Principal Investigators:
Xin Zhao, PhD, Professor, [email protected], Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida
Austin Gray, PhD, Assistant Professor, [email protected], Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
PFAS: A Composting Dilemma
Composting does not fully degrade PFAS. Land-applying compost that contains PFAS cycles these persistent pollutants into the environment, contributing to eventual human exposure.
Project Motivation and Objectives
PFAS are persistent and highly mobile contaminants that have been increasingly measured in many waste streams (landfill leachate, wastewater sludge, composts) and environmental media (surface and groundwater, soils, ice cores, ambient air) across the globe. Since PFAS do not fully degrade under typical environmental conditions, including composting and anaerobic digestion conditions, recycled organic waste products that contain PFAS can disperse these contaminants into the environment when land applied. Though there are some studies measuring PFAS in composts and other recycled organics in the US, there is need for a more comprehensive understanding of the PFAS landscape in these products.
The primary goal of this study is to survey the presence of PFAS in diverse recycled organics and fertilizers (particularly compost-based soil amendments) to identify which feedstock materials contribute the most PFAS and determine best management practices. PFAS data will be supplemented with parameters compost is typically tested for, including trace metals, moisture and organic matter content, and major nutrients. Some samples will be chosen for microplastics analysis, to explore the relationship between the contaminants.
As passive receivers of wastes that may contain PFAS, organics recycling facilities may not be able to directly change the PFAS content of their product. This parallel data of nutrient and contaminant content can help facility operators, regulators and consumers strategize as to which feedstocks should be avoided, which products are suitable for agricultural applications, and which may be better utilized for other types of beneficial reuse.
The timeline for this study is organized into three main tasks:
The primary goal of this study is to survey the presence of PFAS in diverse recycled organics and fertilizers (particularly compost-based soil amendments) to identify which feedstock materials contribute the most PFAS and determine best management practices. PFAS data will be supplemented with parameters compost is typically tested for, including trace metals, moisture and organic matter content, and major nutrients. Some samples will be chosen for microplastics analysis, to explore the relationship between the contaminants.
As passive receivers of wastes that may contain PFAS, organics recycling facilities may not be able to directly change the PFAS content of their product. This parallel data of nutrient and contaminant content can help facility operators, regulators and consumers strategize as to which feedstocks should be avoided, which products are suitable for agricultural applications, and which may be better utilized for other types of beneficial reuse.
The timeline for this study is organized into three main tasks:
- Review existing literature on PFAS in recycled organics and feedstocks, survey facilities, and collect samples
- Analyze samples for PFAS and other parameters
- Utilize non-targeted and TOF methods to investigate the transformation and underestimation of PFAS during the composting process
Progress Reports
Progress reports, TAG meeting recordings, and publications will be uploaded as they are completed.
Current project status: Task 1 is largely complete. We are beginning sample processing and analysis described in Task 2.
Current project status: Task 1 is largely complete. We are beginning sample processing and analysis described in Task 2.
Quarter 1 Report
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Quarter 2 Report
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Quarter 3 Report
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Final Technical Report
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TAG Meetings
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Kickoff Meeting
Date: December 12, 2024 at 2 pm |
Final Presentation
Date: TBD |
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Contact for inquiries regarding this project:
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