New Jersey highlights collection initiative to destroy PFAS firefighting foams

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have announced the success of a state-led effort to collect and safely destroy firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from fire departments across the state at no cost. 

The initiative is part of the Sherrill Administration’s mission to address complex environmental problems and is helping fire departments comply with state legislation banning the use and storage of these foams after Jan. 1, 2027.  

NJDEP says two regional sites have been collecting the firefighting foams throughout the month for destruction by an out-of-state contractor. New Jersey’s program is funded through a $16.6 million state appropriation. 

“We are extremely pleased that fire departments from across New Jersey have been stepping up to get rid of these foams and protect firefighters, their communities and the environment from potential impacts from these dangerous chemicals,” DEP Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak said during an event at the northern regional collection site in Hunterdon County. “The DEP is delivering on one of the Sherrill Administration’s environmental priorities to mitigate harmful PFAS, keeping them out of the environment and avoiding the extremely high cost of cleanup down the road."

NJDEP says state law adopted in 2024 directed the department to establish a collection and disposal program to address the risks posed by PFAS-containing firefighting foams, of which the most common is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). 

DEP and DCA’s division of fire safety identified more than 400 fire departments eligible to participate and expect to collect approximately 150,000 gallons of firefighting foam. Participating fire departments were required to register in advance and have been advised of collection and drop-off requirements, including safe handling and transportation of the materials. 

“Today we are continuing the process of removing these PFAS 'forever chemicals' from our fire departments throughout the state,” says Wayne Wolk, state fire marshal and division of fire safety director. “Now is the time to begin the transition from these PFAS-containing foams and move to safer fluorine-free alternatives.” 

The DEP has contracted with Revive Environmental, a Columbus, Ohio-based contamination mitigation company, to manage the logistics, consolidation, storage and certified destruction of collected AFFF materials. Collected foam will be transported to a Revive-operated treatment facility in Ohio, where PFAS compounds are permanently destroyed using high-temperature, high-pressure supercritical water oxidation. 

Unlike disposal methods that may transfer PFAS to air, soil or wastewater streams, the department says Revive’s process breaks the chemical bonds apart and converts the materials into benign mineralized byproducts, treating water to standards that meet or exceed drinking water criteria. 

“NJDEP is setting the standard for statewide PFAS action,” says Revive CEO Rick Gillespie. “With over 150,000 gallons of AFFF expected from hundreds of fire departments, this is one of the largest coordinated foam collection and destruction programs in U.S. history. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have been sitting with firefighters and their families and hearing what it means to finally have this foam out of their stations.” 

PFAS are used in certain firefighting foams because they form a barrier to extinguish high-hazard flammable liquid (Class B) fires, such as fuel, oil and grease fires. 

When used in firefighting, NJDEP says these foams can seep into the ground and impact nearby water bodies, posing a threat to drinking water supplies.  

The state legislation signed in 2024 set a Jan. 8, 2026, deadline for fire departments to cease using PFAS-containing firefighting foams. The deadline was extended to Jan. 1, 2027.