With PFAS rules up in the air, MRF operators seek ways to get ahead of regulations

By Megan Quinn | WASTECON | December 12, 2022

Read the full article by Megan Quinn (WASTECON)

"As more states ban PFAS in packaging, MRFs that process recycled materials destined for new packaging will need to determine where they fit into the process. At a WASTECON panel last week, speakers discussed how current and future laws on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances could affect the sector — and what MRF operators can do while awaiting clearer regulations.

Sonoco, a consumer packaging company, is already fielding customers’ questions about whether its products contain PFAS. “They’re not only saying, ‘does this have PFAS in it?’ but also, ‘can you get rid of it?’” said Scott Byrne, Sonoco’s director of global sustainability, during the presentation.

Sonoco operates several MRFs that process recycled paper for the company’s products, and Byrne said its operators are more focused on daily operations than worrying about whether the material they sort contains PFAS. Byrne suspects that will change in the coming years, but it’s unclear where MRFs should start focusing their energy to stay ahead of any PFAS problems."