More than 30,000 gallons of toxic fluorochemical foam has been collected from municipal fire departments and commercial airports in Michigan in an effort that state officials believe is the nation’s largest collection and disposal program of its type.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the state fire marshal’s office announced the milestone for their per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, foam disposal program on Wednesday, June 16.
“There have been some smaller collection programs around the country, but this is the first statewide collection program of this magnitude that we’re aware of,” said Steve Sliver, head of EGLE’s PFAS Action Response Team, or MPART.
Since December, EGLE says about 32,000 gallons of Class B aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, has been collected for shipment to a hazardous waste landfill in Grand Ville, Idaho.