In a UK first, Veolia has launched a new service to treat Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) fire suppressants containing certain PFAS* with an expected 99.999% efficiency.
Materials will be treated at the UK’s largest High Temperature Incinerator (HTI) using temperatures of 1100 degrees Celsius at Veolia’s Ellesmere Port, which has a new environmental permit issued by the Environment Agency
In line with Veolia Group’s GreenUp strategy, this new process to treat micropollutants demonstrates the organisation's commitment to protecting human health and the health of ecosystems through acceleration of our growth area, hazardous waste treatment.
As part of the Group’s global BeyondPFAS offering, Veolia has launched a new process for the treatment of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) fire suppressants containing PFAS* (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) ahead of a UK ban that will come into force in July 2025. This new service will address the mandatory need to safely dispose of a potential 10,000 tonnes of these chemicals, already in stock at producer’s or user’s sites, by using an Environment Agency-approved high temperature incineration process.
AFFFs are a firefighting foam that has been extensively used for a number of years to combat flammable liquid fires across a range of applications covering the aviation, petrochemical, military, oil and gas, fire service and industrial sectors. However, the use of these foams, which contain PFAS* will be banned in the UK this year as they have potential bioaccumulative toxicity which may impact both the environment and human health.
The specialist treatment at Veolia's High Temperature Incinerator (HTI) at Ellesmere Port will use temperatures of 1100 degrees Celsius to dispose of AFFF extinguishers and fire suppressants. Veolia's state-of-the-art process has been approved by the Environment Agency, as well as a wide-ranging monitoring and testing programme for all emissions and residues. Veolia expects to achieve 99.999% efficiency.
Nicola Henshaw, Managing Director Hazardous at Veolia UK said: "The regulatory landscape surrounding PFAS is rapidly evolving, with increasing scrutiny and stricter controls being implemented globally. Veolia is committed to staying at the forefront of these developments and providing our clients with effective, safe and compliant solutions for managing PFAS contamination. Aligned with our GreenUp strategy which positions Veolia as a leader in decontamination, we are utilising our expertise and comprehensive range of technologies to enable us to address the complex challenges posed by PFAS and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment."
Veolia's HTI facility can also handle other PFAS-containing materials from chemical manufacturing, building and construction, cabling and wiring, metal finishing and plating, hydraulic fluids, fluoropolymer production, paper products and packaging, semiconductor manufacturing, textiles, cleaning products and refrigeration.
Veolia is the world leader in hazardous waste treatment, from collection and disposal to recycling and reuse. Backed by the Group’s GreenUp strategy, aimed at making Veolia the champion of decarbonization, de-pollution and regeneration of natural resources, the Group currently treats and recycles around 8 million tonnes of hazardous waste. This spans across more than 100,000 industrial, commercial or public authority clients, across a network of more than 300 facilities on five continents.
BeyondPFAS: Veolia, drawing on its hundred-plus years of expertise in providing environmental services, combined with its unique, scientifically proven know-how in treating these complex pollutants, has developed an integrated offer capable of meeting requirements for contaminant treatment and regulatory compliance. BeyondPFAS is a holistic offer suited to every customer’s specific needs, local legislation, and on-the-ground realities, from contaminant detection to disposal in our hazardous waste treatment facilities. With BeyondPFAS, every customer can count on the worldwide expertise of Veolia, leader of the ecological transformation, to identify, test, and scale up the best technical solution for a safer, cleaner future for all.
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