A study examining Illinois landfills and associated wastewater treatment plants highlights how microplastics and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) persist in the environment despite efforts to manage them. Key findings include:

Retention and Removal: Landfills retain most microplastics, and wastewater treatment plants remove 99% of microplastics and some PFAS from inflows.

Accumulation in Biosolids: Both contaminants accumulate in biosolids, the waste byproduct of wastewater treatment. In Illinois, 70% of biosolids are used as agricultural fertilizer, while 30% are landfilled, reintroducing pollutants into the environment.

High PFAS in Leachate: Landfill leachate contains high PFAS concentrations, although microplastic levels are lower than expected.

Systemic Challenges: Current systems simply transfer contaminants between media (e.g., water, soil, and landfills) without eliminating them.

Environmental Spread: Both microplastics and PFAS are pervasive, found in soil, water, and even human bodies, with billions of tons of plastics produced globally contributing to the issue.

Mitigation Challenges: Treating biosolids to remove these pollutants is costly. Researchers argue for upstream prevention, urging reduced production and use of plastics and PFAS to address the root cause.

The study underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to curb pollution before contaminants enter the waste stream.

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