As part of ongoing efforts to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has reached a special order by consent with Sampson County Disposal LLC. The agreement requires the landfill operator to phase in treatment and removal of PFAS from groundwater.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals found in many commercial, industrial, and consumer products. These chemicals are often disposed of in landfills and are known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans and animals. An estimated 3.5 million people in North Carolina use tap water with PFAS levels above the health-based standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is scheduled to take effect in 2029. The deadline may be extended to 2031, according to a recent public announcement from the agency.
“Forever chemicals like PFAS and GenX cause significant health harms, and this agreement demonstrates Sampson County Disposal’s commitment to address PFAS contamination in our water,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “Installing this treatment system will help protect water quality for residents of Sampson County and North Carolinians downstream. While the landfill is a receiver and not a producer of PFAS chemicals, DEQ will continue to work to address PFAS discharges at the source – the most cost-effective way to protect public health and lower the cost of meeting federal drinking water standards.”
The special order by consent was signed on November 10 between Sampson County Disposal, a subsidiary of GFL Environmental Inc., and the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, which serves as NCDEQ’s rule-making body. Under this agreement, Sampson County Disposal must install an advanced treatment system that limits discharge of five specific PFAS compounds—PFOS, PFOA, GenX, PFNA, and PFHxS—and report measurements for all other listed PFAS chemicals. The system must achieve at least a 50% reduction by January 14, 2026, increasing to 90% by April 14, 2026. Final concentration levels specified in the agreement must be met starting November 15, 2026.
GFL Environmental Inc. has worked with NCDEQ toward this agreement through coordinated efforts involving multiple agencies. The goal is to identify and implement technologies that meet the requirements outlined in the order.
Sampson County Disposal is also required to obtain a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from NCDEQ’s Division of Water Resources (DWR). This permit ensures compliance with state water quality standards and may require additional monitoring or treatment measures.
In 2023, NCDEQ’s Division of Waste Management began requiring all solid waste sanitary landfills across North Carolina to test for PFAS in groundwater, surface water, and leachate—the liquid that drains through landfills. Sampling conducted by both Sampson County landfill operators and DWM during 2023 and 2024 identified PFAS-contaminated groundwater being discharged into Bearskin Swamp via an intercept system that collects groundwater beneath the landfill.
The special order by consent was issued after a public comment period lasting thirty days. Additional information about the order is available online.
The Department of Environmental Quality regulates air, land, water, and coastal environments throughout North Carolina as part of its mission to promote environmental stewardship based on science for all residents’ health and prosperity (official website). Its responsibilities include issuing permits, enforcing environmental laws, managing waste programs such as those related to landfills like Sampson County’s, overseeing water resources—including NPDES permitting—and supporting public education about environmental issues (official website). Formed in 2015 after restructuring its predecessor agency (official website), NCDEQ maintains its central office at 217 West Jones Street in Raleigh (official website).
