PFAS Found in Landfills; No Clear Path on What to Do About It

When Joe Fusco looks at a landfill, he sees the result of decades of consumer demand for waterproof, nonstick, and stain-resistant products, a soup of “forever chemicals” that could make their way into the water supply.

“The chemicals are so prevalent in society,” said Fusco, who is vice president at Vermont-based Casella Waste Systems Inc. “You’re going to find it in every landfill. You’re going to find it in every wastewater treatment plant.”

The chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are also popping up in drinking water supplies across the country. But finding the chemicals is just ...