The Washington State Department of Ecology is launching the Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) disposal program to support fire departments in Washington state. This initiative addresses the urgent need to safely manage and dispose of AFFF, a firefighting foam that contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Ecology’s AFFF disposal program covers the costs of disposal for qualifying Washington municipal fire departments and public first responders. In Washington state, waste with PFAS is classified as dangerous waste.

After completing an extensive review of disposal methods for AFFF, Ecology chose to dispose of the foam at the Clean Harbors RCRA-permitted incinerator in Aragonite, Utah. Under Ecology’s program, Clean Harbors, a permitted hazardous waste hauler, will collect approximately 32,000 gallons of AFFF from 77 participating fire stations, mostly in an around the Puget Sound region.

For more information, see the EIS here and the letter to the public here.