Tell the EPA: Stop Promoting "Forever Chemical" Fertilizer

For over 20 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed and even promoted the use of fertilizer made from sewage sludge contaminated with toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS. 

These chemicals, linked to cancer, immune system damage, and other serious health problems, have no place in the soil where we grow our food. Shockingly, the EPA has been aware of these risks for decades—and has failed to act.

The EPA was first informed about the presence of PFAS in sewage sludge in 2003. Internal documents revealed that the agency was warned of the risks of these chemicals contaminating fertilizers and the broader environment. Since then, independent studies and whistleblowers have repeatedly flagged the dangers of PFAS in sludge-based fertilizers, highlighting the potential for contamination of water supplies, crops, and soil. Despite this, the EPA continued to allow their widespread use, prioritizing cost-cutting measures over public health and safety.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment. When fertilizers made from PFAS-contaminated sludge are spread on fields, these chemicals can leach into water supplies, contaminate food, and persist in the soil for decades. Communities across the country are now grappling with PFAS exposure, which has devastating consequences for human health and the environment.

The EPA’s failure to act on this issue under both Republican and Democratic administrations has allowed this contamination to spread unchecked. This bipartisan negligence has put countless Americans at risk and undermined trust in the agency tasked with protecting the environment.

We call on the EPA to immediately halt the promotion and use of PFAS-contaminated fertilizers and take bold action to clean up this toxic legacy. The agency must prioritize protecting people and the environment over corporate interests, ensuring that "forever chemicals" are eliminated from our food and water.

Sign this petition to demand that the EPA stop promoting dangerous fertilizers and take urgent steps to safeguard our health and future. Let’s make it clear: our soil, water, and food deserve better than toxic sludge.