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Disproportionate PFAS mass loading from landfill leachate: implications for biosolids management policy
Patrick M D'Aoust1, Benoit Barbeau2, Sébastien Sauvé3
1Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Canada; City of Ottawa, Solid Waste Services, Ottawa, Canada.
Journal of Environmental Management
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Land application of biosolids is vital for nutrient recycling, but per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concerns are leading to bans. Addressing concentrated PFAS sources like landfill leachate (LL) before wastewater treatment is crucial for effective environmental management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Land application of biosolids is a key component of circular nutrient management, returning essential elements to agricultural soils.
- Growing concerns regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasing regulatory pressure on biosolids programs, leading to bans in some regions.
- Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) often struggle to remove PFAS, resulting in their accumulation in biosolids and effluent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze PFAS mass loadings from landfill leachate (LL) into WWTPs.
- To survey global regulations and bans on PFAS in biosolids.
- To argue that current regulatory responses focusing on biosolids may be misdirected.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of current knowledge on PFAS mass loadings between LL and WWTPs.
- Survey of global biosolids PFAS regulations, bans, and monitoring requirements.
- Critical evaluation of prevailing regulatory approaches.
Main Results:
- Landfill leachate (LL) can contain significantly higher PFAS concentrations than municipal wastewater.
- LL contributes disproportionately to PFAS mass loading in WWTPs (∼11.7%) despite low influent flow (0.05-1.3%).
- Most WWTPs exhibit poor PFAS treatment, leading to PFAS presence in biosolids.
Conclusions:
- Current regulations targeting biosolids may dismantle nutrient recycling without effectively reducing environmental PFAS.
- Focusing on upstream sources, such as industrial wastewater and LL, is essential for managing PFAS.
- Source control, targeted monitoring, and pretreatment of LL offer a more effective policy for PFAS management.
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