Euralarm publishes new guidance on the safe disposal of fire-fighting foam media
Euralarm has published a new guidance document, Guideline on Disposal of Fire-Fighting Foam Media (UK & Europe), providing practical recommendations for the safe, compliant and environmentally responsible handling and disposal of fire-fighting foam media. The publication reflects the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape surrounding PFAS-containing firefighting foams and supports organisations in adopting best practice throughout the disposal process.
The guidance has been developed for manufacturers, service companies, installers, maintenance providers, end users and waste management specialists involved in the handling of fire-fighting foams. It covers both fluorinated and fluorine-free foam media, including AFFF, FFFP, fluorine-free foams (F3), Class A and Class F foams, as well as wetting agents and water additives.
As environmental legislation continues to tighten across Europe, the guidance explains the applicable standards and legislation governing foam disposal, including European fire protection standards, waste legislation and the latest restrictions on PFAS substances. It also outlines practical measures for handling, storage, transport and disposal, helping organisations minimise environmental impact while maintaining compliance.
A central message of the publication is that all fire-fighting foam should be regarded as potentially hazardous unless proven otherwise. The guidance emphasises that uncontrolled discharge to land, drains or watercourses must be avoided and that disposal should only be carried out through authorised hazardous waste routes. For PFAS-containing foams, high-temperature incineration at licensed facilities remains the preferred and, in many cases, mandatory disposal method.
The document also provides practical recommendations for servicing and maintenance activities, including the containment of foam during testing, appropriate storage and transport arrangements, and the recovery of waste foam from both portable extinguishers and fixed suppression systems. It encourages organisations to transition to fluorine-free foams where appropriate, remove legacy PFAS stocks and adopt closed-loop recovery systems to prevent environmental releases.
The guidance concludes with a simple but important principle that underpins the entire document: all fire-fighting foam should be fully contained, treated as potentially hazardous and disposed of through authorised hazardous waste processes in accordance with European standards and environmental legislation.
The Guideline on Disposal of Fire-Fighting Foam Media (UK & Europe) is available from the Euralarm website.
