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Dec. 1 deadline to sign up for collection
A successful program to collect and properly dispose of PFAS chemicals stored by Indiana fire departments will discontinue operations at the end of the year.
The Indiana Class B PFAS Foam Collection Initiative has gathered nearly 41,000 gallons of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) foam since it first launched more than a year ago as a collaborative project between the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Fire departments across Indiana can sign up online and then schedule a pickup on site of the dangerous, cancer-causing foam material that was once used widely to combat hazardous materials fires.
Any department hoping to take advantage of this free service must complete the online survey form by December 1 to begin the process. The month of December will be used to complete any backlog, and no pickups will occur after December 30.
Also referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS has been proven in many studies to be cancer causing for firefighters, who are at an exponentially higher risk of several kinds of cancers. The PFAS chemicals can adhere to clothing and enter the bloodstream through continued exposure. In 2020, Indiana passed a law to restrict the use of PFAS foams for any training purposes, with a very defined exception for facilities that have implemented “appropriate measures” to prevent the chemicals from reaching the environment. Groundwater sources are very susceptible to PFAS contamination.
Some departments have been hesitant to turn over PFAS foam stored at their locations, and the program does not replace the PFAS foam with a healthier and more effective option. However, the program eliminates significant disposal costs for departments that rarely need or use this type of material to fight routine fires. Keeping the material on hand only prolongs potential exposure to the firefighting community.
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