The Conservancy Initiative has new PFAS test results (specifically PFOS) from Johnson Creek that reinforce a clear pattern of contamination from the Arbor Hills Landfill and raise serious questions about GFL’s bid to build a new landfill in Salem Township.
New PFAS Results from Johnson Creek
In March 2026, The Conservancy Initiative collected a sample from a Johnson Creek tributary directly downstream of the Arbor Hills Landfill. Laboratory analysis found PFOS at 32 ng/l, a level that exceeds the PFOS limit in Arbor Hills’ stormwater discharge permit. This result is not an outlier; it aligns closely with testing conducted since 2021 by EGLE, GFL’s own contractors, and TCI’s contractors, all of which have documented elevated PFOS in stormwater leaving the landfill site.
These consistent results confirm that PFAS discharges to Johnson Creek have been ongoing for years, despite repeated assurances that the facility is in compliance.
Why This Matters for a New Landfill
GFL’s slow and reluctant response to PFAS contamination in Johnson Creek should weigh heavily on any decision about its proposed new landfill. The company has lagged in implementing transparent monitoring, has only acted decisively when under public scrutiny, and has allowed PFAS-laden stormwater to continue reaching Johnson Creek. This track record does not inspire confidence in GFL’s ability—or willingness—to operate a NEW LANDFILL, which will operate for decades to come, in a way that protects public health and local waterways.
Washtenaw County residents deserve a waste system that reduces pollution, not a new landfill operated by a company that has yet to resolve its existing contamination problems.
What You Can Do Now
Please share this information with your friends, neighbors, and local organizations, especially those located in Washtenaw County. Then, contact the Washtenaw County Commissioners and urge them to:
Reject GFL’s proposed new landfill in Salem Township.
Demand full, public PFAS monitoring of all Arbor Hills stormwater discharges to Johnson Creek.
Insist on timely, independently verified cleanup of PFAS already in the creek and the surrounding environment.
Use this link to send a short letter to all 9 Commissioners.
Local decisions made this year will shape Johnson Creek’s health for decades. Your voice can help ensure we stop PFAS at the source instead of handing the polluter a new landfill.
Please Consider Donating
The PFAS testing was conducted with community donations. Please consider making a donation to support our efforts to stop a NEW LANDFILL. A decision is expected later this year - the time is now. Click to Donate.