News: Indaver shares the results of emissions measurement

Indaver treats PFAS molecules expertly and safely. We also communicate openly about our environmental emissions results. In the past few months, we have organised several information sessions for our direct stakeholders. In an extensive webinar Indaver explains its methods and results. Indaver also makes more detailed information available about air emissions measurements. In so doing, we want to continue to communicate transparently about our sustainable approach.

Results for water and air

The PFAS residue in Indaver’s wastewater is reduced to about 10 grams per year for PFOS, PFOA and GenX altogether. For total PFAS the annual pollutant load is limited to less than 2 kg. Indaver thus satisfies all of the strict standards from the discharge permit.

With regard the emissions into the air, there is currently no standardised measurement method at a European level, for measuring the very low concentrations of PFAS in flue gases. In 2021, the government gave the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) with the task of devising a method for sampling and analysing PFAS residues in flue gases. Indaver cooperated in this research, so that VITO could test out the method on Indaver's air emissions. The measurement campaign ran from October 2021 to summer 2022. VITO then used a scientific model to convert the measured values into immissions, in other words, the impact on the environment was simulated. The result of that study showed that Indaver adheres to the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) values.

The results of the emissions measurement campaign also demonstrate that the rotary kiln incinerator works effectively to remove thousands of kilos of PFAS molecules from our society. Indeed, based on these results, with the help of a mass balance, it can be calculated that incineration at high temperature is 99.9999% efficient.

Indaver has already shared the results of the VITO report publicly in consultations with stakeholders that are directly involved, via an online webinar. We are also making a summary available as well as all of the chapters of the report that relate to air emissions.

  • Link to webinar (Results research report air emissions from 1:01:13 to 1:09:02)
  • Link to the research report (Case: Monitoring PFAS chimney emissions from rotary kilns (RDF2) of Indaver nv as part of the development of a validated sampling and analysis method)

Next step

The study that VITO conducted was part of a research project for devising a sampling and analysis method for the compartment air. In all likelihood, by the end of 2022, VITO will be able to make a validated method available to the government and to operators of industrial plants. Indaver is confidently looking forward to this method, so that it can monitor its environmental emissions results even more closely and share them with our stakeholders.