Can PFAS in compostable food packaging contaminate your garden soil?

What's actually in it

Many "compostable" food containers, bowls, and wraps are coated with chemicals to make them grease-proof and water-resistant. Some of those coatings contain PFAS. When you toss these items in your compost bin, the PFAS don't break down. They transfer into the finished compost and then into your garden soil.

Organic amendments sold at garden centers, including some commercial composts and soil conditioners, can also contain PFAS from contaminated source materials.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Sci Technol tested commercially available organic soil amendments and food-contact paper products for PFAS. The researchers found measurable PFAS in both categories.

Food-contact paper products labeled as "compostable" or "eco-friendly" contained PFAS compounds used as grease barriers. When composted, these chemicals went straight into the soil amendment. Commercial composts made from food waste that included these items also tested positive.

Once in your soil, PFAS can be taken up by plant roots and end up in the vegetables you grow. Leafy greens are especially efficient at absorbing PFAS from soil. So composting your takeout bowl could lead to PFAS in your homegrown salad.

Before composting food packaging, check whether the manufacturer tests for PFAS. Some certified compostable products are now available PFAS-free. For garden soil, choose amendments from companies that screen for PFAS contamination.