In brief
Synagro, a company owned by Goldman Sachs, is lobbying Congress to help protect itself from lawsuits over toxic fertilizer made from sewage sludge that may contain harmful "forever chemicals," commonly known as PFAS.
For decades, Synagro, a company now owned by a Goldman Sachs fund, has been turning a profit from processing sewage sludge to sell as fertilizer, often referred to as biosolids. This fertilizer, however, may contain harmful "forever chemicals" (PFAS), associated with severe health risks like cancer and birth defects. Farmers are increasingly discovering that these substances are contaminating their land, water, crops, and livestock. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated two PFAS types as hazardous substances under the Superfund law.In response to growing concerns, Synagro is actively lobbying Congress to protect itself from lawsuits related to pollution stemming from its fertilizer product. The lobbying is being spearheaded by the company's own CEO and other industry representatives. They argue that the PFAS contaminants were already present in the sewage sludge prior to its transformation into fertilizer.This lobbying effort is gaining traction, as evidenced by a proposed bill from Senators John Boozman of Arkansas and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, both Republicans. If passed, the bill would shield companies like Synagro, along with the wastewater plants providing the sludge, from being sued for cleanup costs. A corresponding bill has also been introduced in the House, indicating a significant push toward legal protection for these toxic fertilizer producers amid health and environmental concerns.
