Revive Environmental and Ohio EPA’s AFFF Takeback Program Spotlighted on CBS’ “Eye on America” 

We are excited to share that Revive Environmental’s partnership with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) for the AFFF Takeback Program was featured on CBS’ “Eye on America” series. The segment aired on Tuesday, May 21st, highlighting the efforts to collect and destroy aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) from fire departments across Ohio, utilizing innovative technology to protect our environment and public health. Revive is proud to partner with Battelle and Ohio EPA to provide PFAS destruction and make our communities safer. 

The Ohio EPA’s AFFF Takeback Program is a free initiative designed to collect and safely destroy AFFF, which contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” PFAS are used in firefighting foams to suppress flammable liquid fires but pose significant environmental risks due to their persistence in soil, water, and air. 

The program employs Revive’s PFAS Annihilator^® technology to eradicate PFAS in AFFF through supercritical water oxidation. This cutting-edge process utilizes intense heat and pressure to break the molecular bonds of PFAS, transforming them into clean water, inert salts, and a nominal amount of carbon dioxide. Unlike traditional disposal methods such as incineration and landfilling, this technique ensures complete destruction of PFAS without releasing them into the environment. 

The CBS crew captured several key moments, including: 

• Lt. Jay Leach’s Story: In Bellbrook, Ohio, Lt. Jay Leach shared his personal connection to the issue. He described how his wife, Tracy, a firefighter for 25 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and passed away in December 2022. Leach believes PFAS exposure from firefighting foam contributed to her illness. “Most firefighters that got in this job knew it’s an inherent risk. But we never knew the gear and equipment that we’re using is killing us,” Leach said. 
• Cancer Risks for Firefighters: Mark Strassmann reported that cancer caused 72% of active-duty firefighter deaths last year, with smoke inhalation accounting for only 4%. This underscores the significant risk PFAS pose to firefighters. 
• Personal Reflection: Leach shared a poignant moment showing a picture of his wife that he keeps in his helmet. “I wholeheartedly believe that PFAS caused my wife’s cancer,” he stated, despite not being able to prove it conclusively. 
• State Commitment: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine highlighted Ohio’s commitment to destroying all AFFF in the state, emphasizing the dangers of keeping such substances stored in fire stations. 
• Broader Risks: The segment also addressed the presence of PFAS in firefighting gear, which can expose firefighters to carcinogens through prolonged contact. 

The State of Ohio AFFF Takeback Program will collect over 50,000 gals of AFFF from approximately 1,000 local fire departments across Ohio, significantly reducing potential water contamination.  

Fire departments interested in participating in the Ohio AFFF Takeback Program can register their AFFF materials for future collection events at: https://oh.revive-environmental.com/register/ . Participating stations will receive certificates of annihilation, verifying the safe and complete destruction of PFAS from their AFFF stockpiles. 

We invite you to watch the full segment to learn more about the impactful work being done through the AFFF Takeback Program. Together, we are making strides towards a cleaner, safer environment for all.