Description
Can we actually annihilate the toxic "forever chemicals" polluting our water and soil? The debut episode of Positive Charge dives into the Herculean challenge of destroying PFAS — long-lived contaminants linked to serious health effects like cancer and immune suppression. Even the most rugged, pristine corners of Alaska are facing high levels of PFAS groundwater contamination.
Fortunately, a wave of intrepid entrepreneurs are building breakthrough technologies to prove these chemicals aren't as immortal as their name suggests. The episode goes inside two innovative companies tackling the crisis from completely different angles. First, we explore a system that deploys highly portable, shipping-container-sized units to superheat and destroy highly concentrated PFAS stockpiles directly on-site.
Then, the focus shifts to a technology that spun out of a sanitation project funded by Bill Gates. This system utilizes intense thermal "poop briquette" boilers to incinerate diluted PFAS from municipal wastewater while generating clean electricity. Tune in to find out how these real-world solutions might just close a massive global infrastructure gap and protect our environment.
Sources and references
Interviews:
• Brian Pinkard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-pinkard/) , Aquagga, co-founder and chief technology officer
• Heather Koponen, Fairbanks, Alaska, resident impacted by PFAS
• Stephanie Dotterer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dotterer/) , Sedron Technologies, director of strategy
• Meghan Carlo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-carlo-5ab91235/) , Sedron Technologies, senior permit manager
Additional sources:
• Bill Gates drinking water from sewage waste (https://www.gatesnotes.com/Omniprocessor-From-Poop-to-Potable) (Gates Notes)
• ‘Forever chemicals’ are eternal no more thanks to a pollution destroying device from Tacoma startup (https://www.geekwire.com/2023/this-startup-has-a-weapon-of-pfas-destruction-that-fits-inside-a-10-foot-shipping-container/) (GeekWire)
• Flush with cash: Washington startup lands up to $500M to deploy facilities treating sewage, dairy waste (https://www.geekwire.com/2026/flush-with-cash-washington-startup-lands-up-500m-to-deploy-facilities-treating-sewage-dairy-waste/) (GeekWire)
• Alaska Community Action on Toxics (https://www.akaction.org/)
• Toxic-Free Future (https://toxicfreefuture.org/mission/)
This episode was hosted by Lisa Stiffler and Laura Scott, and edited and produced by Laura Scott, with editorial assistance from Todd Bishop. Sponsored by Amazon Sustainability.
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