Test for PFAS in Biosolids Fertilizer

Biolsolids are used as fertilizer and are contaminating the land and water resources.

Objectives

Test for PFAS in biosolids fertilizer

Target

Synagro Technologies (Liberty Compost (CA), New England Fertilizer Company (NEFCO)

Synagro is the primary actor in the biosolids-as-fertilizer supply chain and has municipal contracts that are financed by taxpayer dollars. While primarily B2B, Synagro's parent company Clean Harbors has consumer-facing environmental services. Targeting Synagro through municipalities and public pressure campaigns is highly viable.

Better alternatives

Denali Water Solutions (biosolids management with growing focus on transparency and testing) Veolia North America – Water Division (large environmental services firm with published sustainability commitments and third-party audits) Jacobs Engineering / Black & Veatch (engineering firms offering biosolids treatment design with documented environmental compliance programs) Local municipal composting programs (city/county-run organic waste programs that may use safer processing methods and are publicly accountable) Clean Earth Capital (focuses on beneficial reuse with environmental compliance emphasis) Organix Recycling (regional biosolids and organics recycler with transparency reporting) Biocycle-affiliated composters (member organizations of BioCycle network often adhere to higher voluntary standards) US Composting Council certified facilities (look up USCC-certified local compost producers who voluntarily test for contaminants)

Ways to take a stand

easy

I pledge to leave a critical review on synagro's google business profile

Public reviews affect Synagro's reputation with municipalities and institutional clients who research vendors online. A detailed, factual review about your concerns with their biosolids practices can influence procurement decisions.

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I pledge to switch to a non-synagro biosolids or compost supplier for your farm or landscaping operation

Synagro supplies treated biosolids and compost products to agricultural and landscaping customers. Sourcing these inputs from a competitor removes direct revenue and signals market dissatisfaction.

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I pledge to cancel or decline a municipal composting program serviced by synagro

Some municipalities contract Synagro to manage residential organic waste programs. Opting out of participation reduces the throughput metrics Synagro uses to justify and renew those contracts.

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I pledge to stop purchasing synagro-branded or affiliated compost and soil amendment products at retail

Synagro markets finished compost and biosolids-derived soil products under various brand names at retail garden centers. Switching to alternative compost brands removes consumer revenue and weakens their retail distribution case.

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I pledge to remove synagro from your company's approved vendor list

If you work in facilities management, agriculture, or municipal contracting, removing Synagro as an approved vendor directly cuts into their B2B revenue pipeline. This is one of the most direct economic actions an individual professional can take.

hard

I pledge to terminate a municipal or commercial waste processing contract with synagro

For decision-makers at municipalities, utilities, or commercial facilities, ending or not renewing a biosolids processing contract is the highest-impact action available. Synagro's core revenue depends on long-term service contracts with institutional clients.

Target

Scotts Miracle-Gro

Scotts Miracle-Gro has one of the strongest consumer-facing brands in the fertilizer space, sold at Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe's, and Amazon. Ordinary homeowners and gardeners are direct consumers. Consumes should know if the fertilizer on their gardens contains biosolids with PFAS.

Better alternatives

Dr. Earth (certified organic, B Corp values, widely available at Home Depot/Lowe's) Espoma Organic (family-owned, OMRI-listed organic fertilizers, available nationwide) Down to Earth Organics (employee-owned, OMRI-certified, strong sustainability practices) Jobe's Organics (OMRI-listed, widely available, affordable price parity) Fox Farm (independent company, organic-focused product line) Wiggle Worm (worm castings-based fertilizer, clean inputs, small independent company) Local compost from municipal or regional composting programs (zero synthetic inputs, supports circular economy) Local feed stores and farm co-ops (often carry bulk organic amendments with local sourcing) Gardens Alive! (mail-order organic gardening supplier, independent) Coast of Maine Organic Products (independently owned, sustainably sourced marine-based fertilizers)

Ways to take a stand

easy

I pledge to leave a 1-star review on a scotts product listing

Post a critical review on Amazon, Home Depot, or Lowe's product pages for Scotts, Miracle-Gro, or Ortho products to warn other consumers and impact sales rankings. Visible negative reviews directly influence purchasing decisions at scale.

easy

I pledge to delete the scotts lawnservice app

Remove the Scotts LawnService or My Lawn app from your device to disengage from their digital ecosystem and reduce their active user metrics. Lower engagement data weakens their digital advertising and subscription conversion pipeline.

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I pledge to cancel your scotts lawnservice subscription plan

Cancel any active Scotts LawnService recurring lawn care program to directly cut their subscription revenue. Scotts has invested heavily in recurring service models, making subscription cancellations a high-impact signal.

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I pledge to switch your lawn fertilizer to a non-scotts brand

Replace Scotts or Miracle-Gro fertilizers with an alternative brand such as Espoma, Dr. Earth, or a store-brand organic option. Fertilizer is Scotts' core consumer revenue driver, and brand switching directly reduces their market share.

hard

I pledge to switch all scotts, miracle-gro, and ortho products to competitor brands

Replace the full range of Scotts-owned products — including Miracle-Gro potting soil, Ortho pest control, and Roundup (distributed by Scotts) — with alternatives across all categories. This household-wide switch maximizes economic impact given the breadth of their consumer portfolio.

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I pledge to stop purchasing all scotts miracle-gro products for one full growing season

Commit to avoiding all Scotts Miracle-Gro family brands for an entire spring-summer gardening season, the period when the company generates the majority of its annual consumer revenue. A seasonal boycott timed to peak sales delivers the greatest financial disruption.

Target

WM (Waste Management Inc.)

WM has direct consumer relationships through residential trash and recycling collection services in cities and suburbs across the US. Consumers can pressure their municipalities to test for PFAS of the biosolids that may be used.

Better alternatives

Republic Services (largest direct competitor, publicly traded, some ESG commitments) Waste Connections (operates in 43 states, published sustainability reports) Recology (employee-owned cooperative, strong environmental track record, operates in CA/OR/WA/MT) Local municipal waste collection (many cities run their own services — check your city/county) Re-TRAC / community composting programs (redirect organic waste locally) TerraCycle (mail-in recycling for hard-to-recycle items, B Corp certified) Local independent haulers (search 'independent waste hauler near me' — many smaller operators exist in rural and suburban markets)

Ways to take a stand

easy

I pledge to leave a one-star review on google or yelp for your local wm service

Public reviews influence prospective customers and signal dissatisfaction to corporate leadership. Low ratings on local listings can reduce new residential and commercial sign-ups in your area.

easy

I pledge to delete the mywm app from your phone

Removing the app reduces WM's active user engagement metrics and signals disengagement from their digital ecosystem. It also removes a touchpoint WM uses to upsell additional services.

easy

I pledge to opt out of wm's autopay and paperless billing

Disabling autopay increases WM's administrative cost per account and reduces their billing efficiency. It also keeps you more aware of charges and in control of payment timing.

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I pledge to downgrade your wm service tier to the lowest available plan

Reducing your service level directly cuts the revenue WM collects from your household. Even a small downgrade across many customers creates measurable revenue pressure.

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I pledge to switch your residential waste collection to a local or municipal provider

Where available, switching to a city-run or independent local hauler removes your account entirely from WM's revenue base. This is the most direct form of economic pressure available to residential customers.

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I pledge to cancel your wm residential or small business waste service contract

Cancelling your contract is the strongest single consumer action against WM, directly eliminating recurring revenue. Small business owners and homeowners in deregulated waste markets have the clearest path to doing this.

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