The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 23 released updated interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, aiming to strengthen protections for public health and the environment.

The guidance reflects the latest available data and is intended to help states, utilities, waste handlers and local communities manage the long-lasting chemicals more safely, a news release said. PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are widely used in industrial and consumer products and break down very slowly, allowing them to persist in soil, water and the human body.

“Keeping Americans safe from PFAS exposure is a top priority and a key part of the Trump EPA’s unwavering commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in the release. “This updated guidance identifies approaches to manage PFAS waste using the best available gold-standard science, so communities across the country can be confident that these chemicals are being managed, disposed of and destroyed in ways that safeguard their health and their environment.”

The updated recommendations highlight disposal and destruction methods with the lowest potential to release PFAS into the environment, while emphasizing that site-specific conditions should guide final decisions. Among the approaches identified as having comparatively lower risk are the use of Class I underground injection wells for long-term storage, disposal in hazardous waste landfills regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the use of hazardous waste combustors operating under strict conditions to destroy PFAS while minimizing harmful byproducts and air emissions.

EPA officials said the agency continues to review emerging research and technologies as scientists and industry groups work to develop more effective ways to eliminate PFAS. The updated guidance introduces a new evaluation framework designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of developing technologies, signaling an effort to accelerate innovation while maintaining strict scientific standards.

The agency is encouraging researchers and technology developers to publicly release data consistent with what it describes as “gold-standard science,” part of a broader push for transparency in how PFAS solutions are evaluated and deployed.

EPA will accept public comments on the interim guidance for 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Submissions can be made through www.regulations.gov under Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2020-0527. Feedback will inform future revisions.