Military-Scale PFAS Cleanup Finally Gets Real

Revive Environmental verifies destruction of firefighting foam as federal guidance sharpens focus on disposal standards

13 Mar 2026

A US environmental technology company has completed what it says is the first verified destruction of PFAS chemicals under a state-led firefighting foam take-back scheme, marking a step towards large-scale deployment of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) in regulated settings.

Revive Environmental, based in Columbus, Ohio, said in January 2026 it had destroyed 1,000 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) collected under North Carolina’s programme. The material was processed at its commercial facility using its proprietary system, with results confirmed by an independent laboratory.

The North Carolina initiative, led by the state Collaboratory and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, aims to collect and dispose of up to 60,000 gallons of legacy AFFF. These foams contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of persistent chemicals linked to environmental and health risks.

SCWO technology treats waste by heating water above 374°C and 22 megapascals, creating conditions in which PFAS compounds are oxidised into byproducts such as carbon dioxide, water and inorganic salts. The company said third-party tests show destruction rates above 99.99 per cent, including for short-chain PFAS that are harder to remove.

The approach contrasts with incineration, where full molecular breakdown is harder to verify and concerns remain over emissions. Several states, including New York and Illinois, have imposed restrictions on PFAS incineration, increasing interest in alternative methods.

The commercial context has shifted further following federal guidance issued in March 2026 by the Department of War. The guidance identified more than 3.5m gallons of AFFF across US military sites and directed agencies to use permitted facilities with proven destruction performance ahead of an October 2026 phase-out deadline.

Revive Environmental operates what it describes as the only permitted SCWO facility at commercial scale in the US, opened in 2023. “Regulators and base commanders have consistently looked for the same thing: verified destruction at a permitted facility,” said Rick Gillespie, chief executive of Revive Environmental. “That is how we have operated since we opened our first permitted facility in 2023.”

With federal procurement criteria now aligned with verified destruction standards, demand is expected to grow from state programmes, municipal utilities and military remediation efforts, though questions remain over capacity and cost as deployment expands.