Toxic Fertilizer Lobbying: Seeking Legal Immunity Amid PFAS Concerns

Synagro, a company that processes sewage sludge into fertilizer, is lobbying Congress for legal protections amid growing concerns over contamination from “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. As farmers face potential health hazards, the company seeks to limit its liability through proposed legislation.

For decades, Synagro, a company under the control of a Goldman Sachs fund, has capitalized on an unlikely resource: sewage sludge. This processed sludge, marketed as fertilizer, contains biosolids that can harbor hazardous “forever chemicals” such as PFAS, which are linked to severe health risks, including cancer and birth defects.

As farmers increasingly discover these contaminants on their fields, crops, and livestock, the Environmental Protection Agency has classified certain PFAS compounds as hazardous substances under Superfund law. In response to the growing alarm, Synagro has initiated a vigorous lobbying campaign aimed at limiting farmers’ rights to sue for remediation of contaminated lands.

According to records and insider accounts, Synagro’s chief executive is at the helm of one of the lobbying groups spearheading this movement, asserting that their company should not bear liability for the chemical presence, as the sludge was already contaminated before it was processed.

Their efforts are gaining momentum, as evidenced by a bill introduced by Republican Senators John Boozman of Arkansas and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, which aims to shield sludge-distributing companies and wastewater treatment facilities from lawsuits. A similar legislative proposal is also underway in the House of Representatives.

As legislative efforts unfold, the future regulatory landscape around sludge application in agriculture remains uncertain, raising critical questions about the protection of public health and environmental safety against industrial interests.