Robeson County residents sue over toxic PFAS pollution from landfill expansion

A group of residents in Robeson County, led by 75-year-old Viv Tolson Wayne, has taken a stand against pollution from the local landfill. Wayne, whose home sits just half a mile from the landfill’s entrance, gathered dozens of her sorority sisters to protest the contamination of their water supply. The Robeson County Landfill has been leaching PFAS chemicals into the environment since at least 2023. A lawsuit now claims the county has caused 'an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment' by allowing this pollution to spread. The contamination has reached the Rocco Water Treatment Plant, which serves local households.

Testing revealed alarming levels of toxic chemicals in residents’ tap water. Wayne’s water contained over 35 parts per trillion of PFOA, the second-highest reading among tested homes. It also showed nearly 25 parts per trillion of GenX, the highest amount found in any US water treatment system. The Chemours Fayetteville Works plant, nine miles away, is the only known source of GenX in North Carolina.

In 2024, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality warned Robeson County that groundwater near the landfill exceeded state limits for multiple PFAS compounds. Despite this, the county’s Board of Commissioners is pushing to expand the landfill by 35 acres, adding to its existing 537-acre site. The landfill’s leachate already contains far higher levels of PFAS than most others in the state.

PFAS exposure is linked to serious health risks. Studies connect it to cancer, thyroid disease, reproductive issues, and developmental delays in children. The lawsuit highlights the spread of PFAS through the Rocco Water Treatment Plant. Residents face ongoing health risks from contaminated tap water. The county’s plans to expand the landfill could worsen the situation unless action is taken.