The hierarchy of treatment and remediation options outlined in the PFAS NEMP should be followed when considering options for the management of PFAS impacted solid waste.  The NEMP outlines the following hierarchy:

• Separation, treatment and destruction: on-site or off-site treatment of the contamination so that it is destroyed, removed or the associated risk is reduced to an acceptable level.
• Onsite encapsulation in engineered facilities with/without immobilisation: if the source site is hydrogeologically appropriate, onsite encapsulation will acceptably manage risk to the on-and off-site beneficial uses (direct and indirect) for soils, surface water and groundwater.
• Offsite removal to a specific landfill cell: leachate should be captured, treated and the removed PFAS destroyed. This may or may not include immobilisation prior to landfill disposal, noting that the conditions in the landfill may reverse or diminish the immobilisation chemistry in ways that are difficult to predict. Immobilisation prior to landfill disposal may require approval from EPA.

EPA seeks to minimise PFAS in the environment wherever possible. More information on the classification of wastes impacted by PFAS can be found in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828).

The EPA Designation - Classification of PFAS impacted soils classifies PFAS-impacted soil as fill material, if the concentrations are below the fill material thresholds set out in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828).

This approach to PFAS-impacted soil for reuse is a conservative approach based on current understanding of science and risk. 

Yes, though it is not the preferred management option. The hierarchy of treatment and remediation options outlined in the PFAS NEMP should be followed when considering options for the management of PFAS impacted solid waste.  EPA recommends you minimise the volumes of PFAS-impacted solid wastes wherever possible. More information on the classification of wastes impacted by PFAS can be found in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828) and the EPA Designation - Classification of PFAS impacted soils.

In some instances, if there are no other possible management options available, PFAS-impacted solid waste may be disposed of to landfill through a designation application (see below for further information). EPA considers PFAS-impacted wastes to be Reportable Priority Waste (RPW), unless below the fill material thresholds set out in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828). In determining whether PFAS-impacted material can be accepted at landfill, this will depend on the category of the waste when it is assessed against publication 1828, and the waste acceptance conditions on the receiving site’s permission.

If you have a query regarding disposal of PFAS-impacted solid waste to landfill you can contact EPA on 1300 372 842  or email your query to permissions@epa.vic.gov.au

Waste categorisation thresholds for PFOS, PFOA and PFHxs are now included in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828 ). This means that you can now self-classify waste containing these types of PFAS without requiring a waste designation. For other types of PFAS, waste generators will continue to need to apply to EPA for an individual designation.  

If you need a designation you can apply through the EPA portal. See How to apply for a designation for guidance on preparing your application, including guidance for applications for waste containing PFAS for landfill disposal.

EPA may arrange an initial meeting to discuss the classification process, and for EPA to gain understanding of the waste stream. EPA will specify what data is required and may request additional information where necessary. 

For any questions in relation to designations, please email permissions@epa.vic.gov.au or contact EPA on 1300 372 842.

Soil that is only contaminated with PFAS with concentrations below the thresholds for fill material in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828) do not need a designation from EPA. Such soil is classified as fill material by the EPA Designation - Classification of PFAS impacted soils.

The PFAS NEMP lists technologies which may be used to treat PFAS-impacted waste. For solid wastes, this includes thermal treatment and soil washing, amongst others. For liquid wastes, this includes reverse osmosis, adsorption and foam separation amongst others.

If a waste disposal contractor advises you that it can treat PFAS waste, EPA recommends you check that the company can demonstrate its ability to effectively destroy or permanently capture PFAS. If you’re uncertain, you can contact EPA on 1300 372 842 or email your query to permissions@epa.vic.gov.au. EPA is consulting with waste treatment and disposal industries to identify companies that can appropriately treat PFAS wastes.

If you are a waste disposal contractor and you are treating PFAS, you should read the rest of this page, then contact EPA immediately to discuss your obligations. Contact EPA on 1300 372 842  or email your query to permissions@epa.vic.gov.au. EPA will probably ask you to provide evidence to demonstrate that your treatment is effective.

PFAS-impacted liquid wastes cannot yet be treated through common trade waste treatment processes, as these processes do not effectively capture or destroy PFAS. PFAS-impacted liquid wastes require specialist treatment to capture and destroy PFAS contaminants. If waste is not treated appropriately the PFAS is likely to be discharged to the environment.

When discussing options for the treatment of PFAS-impacted liquid wastes, EPA recommends that you question whether the technologies used will capture the PFAS and how the captured PFAS will be managed. Treatment companies should be able to provide you with details of their process, what percentage of the PFAS is captured and how the captured PFAS is managed or destroyed.

If you are a waste disposal contractor and you are treating PFAS, you should read the rest of this page then contact EPA immediately to discuss your obligations. Contact EPA on 1300 372 842  or email your query to permissions@epa.vic.gov.au. EPA will probably ask you to demonstrate that your treatment is effective.

We recommend that any PFAS-impacted liquids first be treated to capture and remove the PFAS prior to discharge to sewer.

If you propose to dispose of PFAS-containing liquids to sewer via trade waste, you must seek approval from the relevant water authority. You must make it explicit to the water authority that the liquid waste contains PFAS. The water authority may require information about the concentrations of PFAS in the liquid and the proposed treatment of this waste to capture and remove the PFAS prior to discharge to sewer, to determine if this discharge is acceptable.

Sampling and analysis of landfill leachate by EPA Victoria has found that leachate disposal to sewer contributes minor amounts of PFAS to the overall PFAS loading within the sewer (study scheduled for release). See PFAS in the environment for further information.

At present, and on this basis, EPA Victoria does not believe that landfill leachate should be restricted from being discharged to sewer.  We recommend ongoing sampling and analysis of PFAS concentrations in leachate from all landfills to continue to assess PFAS trends.  Where a landfill exhibits elevated PFAS concentrations or discharges very large volumes of leachate to sewer containing PFAS, treatment to remove PFAS must be considered and the water authority must be consulted.

If you propose to move PFAS-contaminated wastes out of Victoria, a consignment authorisation must be obtained from the relevant agency in the receiving state or territory jurisdiction. You must also comply with all other relevant regulatory requirements, such as transport permits, waste transport certificates and any approvals that are required from EPA for the transport of waste interstate.

Any person wanting to transport solid (including soil) reportable priority waste (RPW) from Victoria to another state or territory must obtain an A12 permit (Transporting waste out of Victoria).  For more information, visit Permits and How to apply for a permit. 

Wastes going interstate for destruction or deposit must go to a facility with equivalent or better environmental performance standards than what is available in Victoria. Unless interstate jurisdictions provide confirmation to EPA Victoria that they are willing to receive PFAS-contaminated solid waste, interstate movements will not be approved.

If you propose to move PFAS-contaminated wastes into Victoria, a consignment authorisation must be obtained from the relevant agency in the waste generation state or territory jurisdiction. You must also comply with all other relevant regulatory requirements, such as transport permits, waste transport certificates and any approvals that are required from EPA for the transport of waste interstate.

Any person wanting to transport reportable priority waste (RPW) into Victoria to from state or territory must obtain an A11 permit (Transporting waste into Victoria).  For more information, visit Permits, How to apply for a permit, and information about A11 Transporting controlled waste into Victoria.

The PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) provides further information on the preferred hierarchy of treatment and remediation options. EPA recommends you minimise the volumes of PFAS-impacted soils, sediments or industrial wastes wherever possible. The NEMP hierarchy should be followed where possible.

It may be appropriate to store PFAS-impacted soils, sediments and industrial wastes onsite, either temporarily or for the longer term, to minimise the risk of PFAS becoming mobilised and to prevent environmental impact. EPA expects that long-term storage will require consideration of the various pathways for the migration of the PFAS into the environment to inform the long-term management options. This may include construction of a purpose-built containment facility. The NEMP provides further information regarding onsite storage and containment of PFAS-impacted material.

Yes. Please complete and submit EPA’s Permission pathway form detailing the proposed treatment and/or storage activities, and EPA will advise what approval (if any) is required.

Regardless of the outcome of this process, EPA will work with you to ensure PFAS-impacted wastes are managed appropriately to protect the environment and human health.

The PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) recommends a landfill acceptance criteria and new waste code, M270, which has been adopted in Victoria following the commencement of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

Waste categorisation thresholds for PFOS, PFOA and PFHxs are now included in Waste disposal categories: characteristics and thresholds (publication 1828).

PFAS-contaminated waste can be given the waste codes M270, N120, or N122, depending on whether it is contaminated waste, soil, and if the soil is below the thresholds set out in the waste designation. PFAS contaminated waste that is not soil is M270.  Contaminated soil above fill material thresholds is waste code N120.  

This means soil with PFAS may have two different codes. Contaminated soil containing PFAS will be both N120 and M270. Waste Tracker requires duty holders to choose the more hazardous waste code. As such, duty holders will be encouraged to select the code that best reflects the load, ensuring the receiving site has the relevant waste code to lawfully accept the load.   

When using the N120 waste code for soil containing PFAS, the Waste Tracker record should include contaminant code 91 to denote the waste soil as containing PFAS. N120 does not apply to non-soil wastes.  

If your facility is currently accepting PFAS-contaminated waste under any other waste code, please contact EPA immediately to discuss your obligations.

Contact EPA on 1300 372 842 or email your query to permissions@epa.vic.gov.au.

If you are at a water authority and you are accepting PFAS-containing trade waste, you should read the rest of this page then contact EPA immediately to discuss your obligations. Contact EPA on 1300 372 842 or email permissions@epa.vic.gov.au.

EPA will ask you to demonstrate that your treatment is effective. The PFAS contamination is also likely to impact your ability to reuse your biosolids in the future.

Refer to the PFAS NEMP which provides a section on reuse of PFAS contaminated materials. Please refer to these documents prior to contacting EPA to discuss appropriate reuse options. Additionally, where soil meets the requirements set out in EPA Designation - Classification of PFAS impacted soils, the soil will be classified as fill material.

If you have an urgent need to manage PFAS wastes and can't find the necessary information on this web page, please contact EPA on 1300 372 842  or email your query to permissions@epa.vic.gov.au.