MEG with Waste Connections to Use Patented PFAS Treatment System

Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. ("Montrose") (NYSE: MEG), a high-growth global environmental solutions company, and Waste Connections shared insight into the use of Montrose's patented per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment system to address PFAS-impacted landfill leachate at Waste Connections' Champ Landfill.

In January 2023, the EPA released Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 which announced plans to develop new effluent limitation guidelines and pretreatment standards to reduce the presence of PFAS in landfill leachate. Landfill leachate is a liquid that forms when rainwater is passed through wastes in a landfill, and unlike municipal water, it increases treatment challenges as it varies widely in composition and contains dissolved and suspended materials.

Ahead of regulatory enforcement and to proactively address PFAS passively received in municipal solid waste, Waste Connections contacted Montrose and its subsidiary ECT2 to evaluate and identify the best PFAS removal technology for landfill leachate at their Champ Landfill in Missouri. Key components of the project included:

Research, development and deployment of a pilot treatment system;
Use of ECT2's patented FOAM-X™ treatment system;
Rapid leachate sample analysis by Montrose subsidiary Enthalpy Analytical;
Design and installation of a full-scale treatment system; and
Educational program support at Waste Connections' Sustainability Campus for guided tours and programs to educate the general public on PFAS and the treatment system.

"ECT2's FOAM-X™ system is highly effective at treating PFAS in liquid waste with high levels of co-contaminants, including landfill leachate," said Vijay Manthripragada, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montrose Environmental Group. "Air is injected in the form of tiny bubbles, which attracts PFAS to the air-water interface, removing it from the water column. Removing PFAS from landfill leachate breaks the cycle of PFAS from discarded consumer products entering our waterways and dispersing through the environment."

Key outcomes of the system include:

Ease of operation;
Reduced cost and carbon footprint from low energy consumption; and
Targeted removal of PFAS compounds.

Montrose's comprehensive solution supports regulatory compliance and prevents the discharge of PFAS-impacted landfill leachate into local wastewater treatment plants.

Brittany Maloy, sustainability supervisor, of Waste Connections Sustainability Campus commented: "We are excited to be working with Montrose Environmental Group and ECT2 as their technology solution aligns perfectly with the mission of Waste Connections Sustainability Campus: to promote environmental responsibility and foster a culture of innovation. Our primary goal is to reduce our environmental footprint and this PFAS treatment facility is a commitment to that objective."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the Champ Landfill Sustainability Campus in the City of Maryland Heights, Missouri on August 6, 2024. Public tours of the PFAS treatment system are available most days by appointment.

"Our ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a significant milestone in our efforts to address the complex environmental challenges associated with PFAS contamination, particularly at landfill sites. Recognizing the growing concern over PFAS contamination and lack of regulations requiring its removal from water, Waste Connections has taken a proactive stance by installing the first PFAS Water Treatment Plant in Missouri," stated Cherie Summa, Waste Connections/Champ Landfill district manager.