AFFF Takeback Program

The AFFF Takeback Program assists communities across the Commonwealth with collection and disposal of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) to remove the AFFF containing PFAS from stockpiles in the Commonwealth and helps to reduce the potential for its use.

PFAS in Fire Fighting Foam

Contact Information  Contact Information +

Cathy Kiley, [e-mail]; 617-549-6854 

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PFAS and Firefighting Foam  PFAS and Firefighting Foam +

Resources & advisory related to PFAS and firefighting foam

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Occupational Cancer in the Fire Service  Occupational Cancer in the Fire Service +

Training, resources, early detection screenings and best practices.

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Takeback Program

MassDEP, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (MassDFS), initiated a legacy "Aqueous Film-Forming Foam" (AFFF) collection and destruction program in 2018 and expanded for modern AFFF that has collected (through March 2025) more than 417,000 pounds (over 48,500 gals) of foam from 164 fire departments and facilities across the Commonwealth.  The take-back program ensures that these foams are removed from current stockpiles and appropriately neutralized. See the project summary below.

In August 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and Department of Environmental Protection issued a joint Advisory for AFFF containing PFAS.  

Fluorine-Free Foam Information

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) and fire service in both states, has conducted a study involving the analysis of six aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) currently on the market and listed as “fluorine-free”. Off-the-shelf foams were acquired by CTDEEP and provided to MassDEP’s contract laboratory Alpha Analytical Laboratories, Inc. for PFAS analyses. Additional analyses, not specific to PFAS, were also conducted by Alpha Analytical Laboratories, Inc., Harvard University and Sterling Analytical, Inc.

A summary of this work is available for download: Summary of the MassDEP/CTDEEP sampling analysis of select “fluorine-free” foams.

Commercial Airports Moving Away from PFAS-containing Foam

On May 16, 2024 the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law. The reauthorization includes two PFAS-related provisions: (1) FAA must report to Congress every 180 days on their progress toward transitioning airports to fluorine-free firefighting foam; and (2) FAA must facilitate commercial airports’ transition away from PFAS-containing firefighting foam by creating a FAA-managed program to reimburse costs for airports’ equipment purchases, cleanup, and disposal, with $350 million authorized to FAA.