EPA Updates Interim Guidance on PFAS Destruction and Disposal — Prioritizes Technologies with Lower Release Potential

Highlighting Underground Injection, Hazardous Waste Landfills, and Thermal Treatment

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At a Glance

The EPA released its 2026 update to the Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS and Materials Containing PFAS.
The updated guidance highlights technologies with lower potential for environmental release, including permitted underground injection wells, Subtitle C landfills, and certain thermal treatment units.
Stakeholders are invited to participate in a 60-day public comment period, with comments due by June 29, 2026.

On April 20, 2026, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the third iteration of its interim guidance concerning the destruction and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Drawing on the latest research, the guidance identifies effective technologies for PFAS destruction and recommends specific protocols to prevent environmental contamination.

This update fulfills an April 2025 commitment by the EPA administrator to move from a triennial to an annual update schedule, ensuring the agency keeps pace with rapidly evolving PFAS science. While nonbinding, the guidance provides technical clarity for decision-makers managing PFAS waste streams such as contaminated soil, biosolids, textiles, and water treatment materials.

Recommended Technologies & Key Updates

The 2026 guidance evaluates commercially available technologies based on their efficacy in controlling environmental PFAS releases. When costs and logistical factors are equal, the EPA recommends that managers prioritize options with the lowest release potential.

The 2026 guidance highlights the following three primary options:

Underground Injection

Permitted Class I hazardous and industrial waste injection wells may be a low-risk solution for high-concentration liquid PFAS waste. By isolating fluids deep beneath drinking water aquifers, this method provides a secure long-term containment strategy.

Hazardous Waste Landfills

While the EPA still recommends RCRA Subtitle C landfills for high-level PFAS waste, caution is advised. New 2026 data suggests that environmental release rates across all landfill types may be higher than the 2024 estimates indicated.

Thermal Treatment

Various thermal treatment devices are effective, provided they maintain rigorous operational standards, specifically high temperatures (>1,100°C), and long residence times, to ensure total destruction.

Uncertainties & Research Needs

The EPA acknowledges ongoing scientific uncertainties and is prioritizing further research to improve PFAS measurement and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of recommended disposal techniques. Specifically, EPA's research priorities, as outlined in Table 4-1 of the guidance, focus on refining PFAS measurement in materials and emissions, while simultaneously evaluating the long-term effectiveness of thermal treatment, landfills, and underground injection wells for PFAS management.

Looking Forward & Next Steps

Stakeholders should review the updated EPA guidance and consider submitting relevant data or studies related to PFAS waste management during the 60-day public comment period, which opened on April 29, 2026, and will close on June 29, 2026.

For more information, see the EPA's detailed guidance here: 2026 Interim Guidance on PFAS Destruction and Disposal.

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