Veolia completes PFAS waste incineration testing

Veolia North America, a Boston-based subsidiary of France-based Veolia, has published what it says is the waste management industry’s most comprehensive testing to date on the incineration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds.

The tests demonstrated that high-temperature incineration is a proven and reliable disposal solution for high concentrations of targeted PFAS, the company says, destroying greater than 99 percent of targeted substances, including up to 99.9999 percent of PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid). 

PFAS contamination is a critical challenge due to its widespread presence and persistent nature, Veolia says. This testing, conducted using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) most current guidance, advances the scientific understanding of PFAS disposal and gives cities and industries more options for management of these compounds. 

The two-phased study was conducted at Veolia’s hazardous waste incinerator in Port Arthur, Texas, in July and October of 2024 by a third-party provider. The facility was chosen based on its track record of managing PFAS-containing material, and its ability to reach a secondary combustion chamber temperature of 2,040 degrees Fahrenheit and a residence time of 2.3 seconds. 

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The testing evaluated thermal treatment of AFFF firefighting foam, PFAS-contaminated soil and spent carbon water treatment media in alignment with the EPA’s most current guidance for solids, liquids and stack air emissions. The testing used the OTM-45 and OTM-50 methods to evaluate products of incomplete combustion (PICs) in stack air emissions. The test results were recently announced at the 2025 PFAS Forum V in Tampa, Florida. 

Key findings of the testing included: 

• Overall result: High-temperature incineration is an efficient disposal solution for high concentrations of targeted PFAS, destroying greater than 99 percent of targeted substances, including up to 99.9999 percent of PFOS and PFHxS.
• Solid residue: In 41 of 45 samples, there were no detectable quantities of the target PFAS in any of the ash, slag or filter cake. In four ash samples, target PFAS levels close to the method detection limit were identified. 
• Liquid residue: Very low levels of the target PFAS were detected in liquid residues; the target PFAS residuals were below the method detection minimum, as well as the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) set by the EPA for drinking water. 
• Air emissions: The destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) was greater than 99 percent for the majority of target PFAS, and few to no PICs were detected during incineration, indicating highly effective destruction.

“This testing demonstrated that high-temperature incineration is a reliable and proven disposal solution for high concentrations of targeted PFAS,” says Bob Cappadona, president and CEO of Veolia North America’s Environmental Solutions and Services business. “Veolia takes our role as industry leaders seriously, which is why we take a scientific approach in conducting the industry’s most comprehensive, modern and credible testing of PFAS incineration. As part of our GreenUp strategy, we have curated the industry’s only truly end-to-end solution for PFAS management: Beyond PFAS. This test is one more step in our journey to protect human health and the environment.”

Veolia provides drinking water to more than 9 million people across the United States. The company says it has treated more than 24 billion gallons of water for PFAS at more than 30 sites, with dozens more under construction or in planning.

Veolia’s BeyondPFAS suite of offerings helps industries and businesses confronting the challenge of regulated PFAS compounds in their water supplies, work processes or waste streams. It streamlines Veolia’s offerings with a holistic approach from initial site assessment and sampling, to implementation of tailored treatment technologies, through proper handling and disposing of contaminants in line with current EPA-recommended methods such as incineration, deep well injection and secured, approved landfills.