U.S. PFAS rules for fertilizers and biosolids in 2026

U.S. oversight of PFAS in fertilizers and biosolids is tightening as federal regulators and individual states address the potential agricultural risks associated with PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge.

On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released draft guidance aimed at reducing potential risks from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. The EPA explains that biosolids are treated sewage sludge that may be applied to agricultural land as fertilizer or soil conditioner because of their nutrient and organic matter content.

The federal guidance does not establish a nationwide PFAS concentration limit for fertilizers or prohibit the use of biosolids. Instead, it provides voluntary risk-reduction recommendations while several states are already adopting stricter approaches of their own.

What changed at the federal level in 2026

The EPA’s Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids is intended for wastewater treatment operators, farmers, landowners, state and Tribal agencies, and other stakeholders involved in sewage sludge and biosolids management.

According to the EPA’s PFAS and biosolids guidance page, the agency is focusing on several areas:

• reducing PFAS entering wastewater treatment systems from upstream sources;
• monitoring biosolids for PFOA and PFOS;
• identifying industrial sources responsible for elevated PFAS concentrations;
• reducing potential human and environmental exposure when biosolids are land applied;
• collecting additional data that could support future federal decisions.

The recommendations are currently voluntary rather than legally binding. The EPA’s public comment period on the draft guidance runs through October 5, 2026, after being extended from the original September 4 deadline.

The 2026 guidance follows EPA work assessing potential health and environmental risks associated with PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge that is land applied, disposed of or incinerated.

How U.S. states regulate PFAS in biosolids

There is currently no single nationwide PFAS standard governing all fertilizer and biosolids products. Instead, requirements differ significantly between states.

Connecticut prohibits PFAS-contaminated biosolids in fertilizer

Connecticut has adopted one of the clearer statutory restrictions. Under Connecticut state law, no person may use, sell or offer for sale fertilizer intended for land application or a soil amendment containing biosolids or wastewater sludge that contain PFAS.

This differs from the current federal approach because Connecticut has established an explicit prohibition rather than relying only on voluntary risk-reduction guidance.

Michigan uses PFAS concentration thresholds

Michigan has taken a concentration-based approach.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy classifies biosolids according to PFOA and PFOS concentrations and imposes progressively stricter requirements as levels increase.

For material containing between 20 and 100 µg/kg of either PFOA or PFOS, Michigan generally limits land application to 1.5 dry tons per acre unless an alternative risk-mitigation strategy is approved.

The state’s PFAS biosolids monitoring data show that 89% of facilities reporting results in 2024 were below 20 ppb, while 11% were between 20 and 100 ppb.

Maine shows the potential agricultural impact of PFAS

Maine provides one of the clearest U.S. examples of how historical sludge application can become a long-term agricultural issue.

The state banned agricultural use of wastewater sludge in 2022 after PFAS contamination was identified on farmland where sludge had historically been used as a low-cost fertilizer.

In May 2026, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry reported that it was working with 127 PFAS-affected sites, ranging from small properties to large diversified farms. The department also announced $3 million in new research grants intended to help farmers manage PFAS contamination.

The funded research includes work on:

• PFAS movement through soil and water;
• uptake of PFAS by crops and livestock;
• ways to reduce PFAS transfer into agricultural products;
• alternative crop production on contaminated land;
• management strategies that could allow affected farms to remain economically viable.

Maine says most of the agricultural contamination it is addressing is linked to the historical use of wastewater sludge as fertilizer.

Why PFAS has become a fertilizer issue

PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a large family of persistent synthetic chemicals used in industrial, commercial and consumer applications.

Wastewater treatment plants generally do not manufacture PFAS themselves. Instead, the substances can enter wastewater systems from industrial facilities, landfills, commercial operations and household sources.

The EPA notes that PFAS entering wastewater treatment systems can ultimately be present in sewage sludge and biosolids. If those biosolids are later applied to agricultural land, the issue becomes directly connected to fertilizer use, nutrient recycling and farm management.

This creates a regulatory challenge because biosolids can provide useful nutrients and organic matter to soil while contaminants contained in those materials may require additional testing and controls.

What fertilizer producers and farmers should watch

For companies involved in biosolids, soil amendments and waste-derived fertilizers, several developments will be particularly important:

1. EPA’s final position on the 2026 draft guidance. Public comments could influence subsequent federal policy.
2. State-level restrictions. Individual states can adopt requirements considerably stricter than federal guidance.
3. PFAS testing. More jurisdictions may require testing before biosolids can be applied to farmland.
4. Source control. Wastewater facilities are likely to face continued pressure to identify and reduce upstream industrial PFAS discharges.
5. Market access. A biosolids-derived fertilizer accepted in one state may face restrictions or prohibitions in another.

Michigan’s existing strategy already demonstrates how testing results can directly determine application rates and whether a biosolids product may be used on farmland at all.

What this means for the U.S. fertilizer industry

The most important regulatory development in 2026 is not the creation of a nationwide ban on PFAS-containing fertilizers. Instead, the U.S. is moving toward a combination of federal risk guidance and increasingly different state-level requirements.

For fertilizer manufacturers, biosolids processors and agricultural businesses, this makes testing, traceability and knowledge of state rules increasingly important.

Connecticut already prohibits certain PFAS-containing biosolids products, Michigan regulates land application according to PFAS concentrations, while Maine illustrates the potential long-term agricultural costs associated with historical contamination.

As federal guidance develops, PFAS regulation is therefore likely to affect not only wastewater treatment operators but also biosolids processors, fertilizer suppliers, farmers and other businesses involved in agricultural nutrient recycling.

Sources: EPA, Connecticut General Assembly, Michigan EGLE, Maine Department of Agriculture