EPA study confirms 99% PFAS destruction at Reworld Thermomechanical Treatment Facility

Reworld's Lake County Thermomechanical Treatment Facility (TTF) in Okahumpka, Florida, received the results from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study. The results validate the effectiveness of PFAS destruction at Reworld TTFs, using a conservative surrogate compound that is more difficult to destroy than other PFAS. 

The TTF process destroyed up to 99 percent of the surrogate compound, and measured concentrations of all PFAS compounds tested were either non-detectable or well below ambient air quality standards. No products of incomplete combustion were observed during normal operating conditions. 

"PFAS contamination is one of the defining environmental crises of our generation," said Azeez Mohammed, president and CEO of Reworld. "These 'forever chemicals' do exactly what their name suggests. They persist, accumulate, and become a growing burden for every generation that follows. We cannot continue treating PFAS as tomorrow's problem. This EPA study marks a turning point by demonstrating that compounds specifically engineered to resist degradation can be permanently destroyed. It proves that PFAS destruction is achievable at scale, and that Reworld has the technology to confront this challenge."

PFAS-contaminated materials can be destroyed successfully at scale 

The EPA study, conducted in spring 2024, was evaluated in conditions representative of how PFAS appear in municipal, commercial, and industrial waste streams. As the PFAS content of incoming waste cannot be precisely quantified, the EPA study used a conservative, stable fluorinated surrogate gas injected into the furnace to evaluate the destruction efficiency.

PFAS are embedded in thousands of everyday products and materials, creating a continuous stream of these persistent chemicals into the waste system. As carpets, textiles, paper products, packaging, and other consumer goods reach the end of their useful lives, they are routinely disposed of in municipal solid waste, where PFAS can continue to persist unless permanently destroyed. With the volume of PFAS-containing waste growing every year, the need for proven destruction technologies has never been more urgent.

The study findings support the recently announced Reworld ReAssure PFAS Destruction service, offering full-scale destruction capacity for PFAS-containing materials across municipal, commercial, and industrial waste streams. 

"PFAS is a clear and urgent issue, and the time to act is now," added Mohammed. "The science is no longer in question; we've demonstrated that permanent PFAS destruction at scale is possible. It is our shared responsibility to put that capability into action."

The EPA study advances the scientific understanding of how TTFs perform when managing PFAS compounds in waste streams. Reworld TTFs operate with a processing capacity 17 times greater than hazardous waste incineration.