Guidance for managing PFAS in SA

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are manufactured chemicals that have been used in a range of industrial and consumer products since the 1950s. PFAS are of concern around the world because they do not naturally degrade, can bioaccumulate in our food and can travel long distances through groundwater.

Australia’s Environment Ministers endorsed the country’s first PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) in January 2018. The plan provides governments with a consistent, practical, risk-based framework for the environmental regulation of PFAS-contaminated materials and sites. The PFAS NEMP 3.0 was agreed to by the Heads of EPAs and released on 23 September 2022 for public consultation.

The plan provides valuable guidance around storage, reuse and disposal of contaminated material to facilitate proactive decision-making for the management of sites impacted by PFAS. The South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has developed the following two guidelines consistent with the NEMP:

• Landfill disposal criteria for PFAS-contaminated waste (SA)
• Environmental management of landfill facilities – solid waste disposal (SA)

The EPA has also undertaken further work regarding the broader policy and operational management of PFAS-contaminated waste in South Australia, including the development of draft site selection criteria that outlines how waste soils containing PFAS can be safely disposed. From 1 February to 1 March 2023 the EPA commenced a targeted industry consultation on two draft guidelines for managing PFAS in SA – the Draft Reuse Guideline and the Draft Siting Guideline. These guidelines represent the further work undertaken by the EPA regarding the policy and operational management of PFAS-contaminated waste soil in South Australia.

For information on the consultation please contact:

• Phone: (08) 8124 4216
• Email