The Hidden Cost of Free Fertilizer: What the Galey & Lord Case Means for Waste Management

For years, we’ve worked with manufacturers and waste generators who face tough decisions about how to manage byproducts in a way that balances cost, compliance, and sustainability. It’s tempting to take the cheapest or most convenient route—especially when it’s marketed as a “green” solution. But as the case of the Galey & Lord textile mill in South Carolina shows, short-term savings can lead to long-term fallout.

What started as a free fertilizer program—distributing treated sludge from the mill’s wastewater system to nearby farms—has now become a high-profile environmental crisis. Thousands of acres of farmland are contaminated with PFAS, “forever chemicals” linked to cancer and other health issues. Families are facing tainted drinking water, crops grown in compromised soil, and potential Superfund designation.

This isn’t just a story about one company. It’s a warning about the hidden costs of unchecked waste practices—and a powerful reminder of why compliance and traceability matter. Wastebits helps our customers avoid exactly this kind of outcome by providing sustainable, fully documented, and cost-effective waste solutions that go beyond the surface.

What Happened in Society Hill: A Quick Look at the Galey & Lord Case

The Galey & Lord textile mill once stood as a symbol of American manufacturing, known for producing khaki fabric and supplying uniforms during World War II. But today, the abandoned plant in Society Hill, South Carolina, has become the center of a growing environmental crisis.

From the 1990s through the early 2010s, Galey & Lord treated its industrial wastewater onsite and gave away the resulting sludge—also known as biosolids—to local farmers as fertilizer. Promoted as a nutrient-rich, sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, the sludge was applied to more than 10,000 acres of farmland across 300 fields. What farmers didn’t know was that the sludge contained high concentrations of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a class of synthetic chemicals now linked to serious health risks, including cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system issues.

Testing by the EPA and state regulators has since revealed PFAS contamination in private wells, groundwater, and soil—some readings reaching hundreds or even thousands of times above current EPA drinking water standards. In one case, levels of PFOA, a well-known PFAS compound, measured 1,500 times the limit. Farmers, residents, and even local officials were unaware of the severity until the damage had been done.

Now, in an unprecedented move, South Carolina is pushing for the contaminated farmland to be included under the federal Superfund program, which would trigger a massive, multi-year cleanup effort and potentially expose responsible parties to substantial liability.

The Illusion of “Free” Waste Reuse

To many waste generators, the idea of giving away byproducts like sludge for beneficial reuse seems like a win-win: the waste is diverted from landfills, someone else uses it, and it costs next to nothing. But as the Galey & Lord case shows, “free” disposal isn’t always free—and it can come with a price far higher than anyone anticipated.

In this case, the sludge was marketed as fertilizer and handed out at no cost to local farmers. What wasn’t disclosed was the presence of PFAS chemicals—substances that don’t break down in the environment and are now under increasing regulatory scrutiny. The lack of upfront testing, oversight, and full transparency turned a cost-saving practice into a public health emergency.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Across the country, industrial byproducts have been offered as soil amendments, fuel sources, or alternative materials, often without a full understanding of their long-term impacts. Many companies unknowingly offload risk through these channels, leaving communities—and eventually themselves—facing lawsuits, cleanup mandates, and reputational damage.

While sludge reuse can be a valid strategy when done responsibly, it requires careful evaluation of the waste stream, regulatory alignment, and traceable documentation. Otherwise, what looks like a sustainable solution can quickly spiral into a crisis.

The Cost of Cleanup vs. the Cost of Responsibility

Cleaning up contamination on the scale seen in Society Hill isn’t just complex—it’s incredibly expensive. If the farmland is officially designated as part of the Superfund site, it will require years of environmental remediation. That could mean removing and replacing soil across thousands of acres, filtering groundwater, and providing safe drinking water to affected homes. Early estimates suggest the cleanup could cost millions—possibly tens of millions—before it’s resolved.

Compare that to the cost of responsible waste management from the start: proper profiling, documented handling, disposal through approved outlets, and environmental due diligence. These services come with a price tag, yes—but they pale in comparison to the financial, legal, and reputational fallout of a regulatory crisis.

Waste generators who choose short-term savings over long-term accountability often do so with limited information about the downstream effects of their decisions. In the case of PFAS, many companies didn’t even realize the substances were present in their waste. But that lack of awareness doesn’t eliminate liability.

At Wastebits, we believe responsibility pays off. By helping companies evaluate their waste streams, stay ahead of regulatory shifts, and explore sustainable alternatives, we turn a compliance burden into a strategic advantage. Our goal is to prevent scenarios like Society Hill from ever taking root in the first place.

How Wastebits Helps Generators Avoid These Pitfalls

We’ve built our platform and services around one core principle: responsible waste management shouldn’t be complicated—but it should be thorough. Our tools and sustainability services are designed to give generators full visibility into where their waste goes, how it’s handled, and how to minimize environmental and financial risk.

Here’s how we help:

• Comprehensive Waste Profiling: We assess every waste stream to identify hazardous characteristics, potential contaminants like PFAS, and the most compliant, sustainable options for handling.
• Sustainable Disposal Alternatives: Whether it’s landfill diversion, waste-to-energy, recycling, or reuse—we provide pathways that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing cost-efficiency.
• Trusted Vendor Network: We connect you with vetted facilities and transporters that meet strict environmental standards, so your waste is never a mystery once it leaves your site.
• Digital Documentation & Audit Trails: From manifests to bills of lading to e-Manifest integration, we ensure every step is logged, traceable, and compliant—providing proof of responsible management.
• Consultative Support: Our team works alongside yours to stay ahead of regulatory changes and identify opportunities to lower costs and improve sustainability performance.

We’re not just a software company—we’re a partner in keeping your business safe, compliant, and future-ready.

Lessons for the Industry

The question isn’t just “Is this legal today?”

The Galey & Lord case isn’t just an outlier—it’s a flashing warning light for manufacturers, municipalities, and any organization generating industrial waste. As PFAS and other contaminants come under sharper regulatory focus, the margin for error is shrinking. The question isn’t just “Is this legal today?”—it’s “Will this be safe, traceable, and defensible tomorrow?”

The days of “out of sight, out of mind” are over. Stakeholders—from regulators to communities to investors—expect transparency and accountability. Waste that once seemed harmless can turn into a public health issue, a PR nightmare, and a legal battle if not properly managed.

That’s why many forward-thinking companies are turning to third-party compliance and sustainability partners like Wastebits. We offer more than just disposal—we offer a proactive strategy. Our customers avoid liabilities by having the right data, the right documentation, and the right partners from the start.

If there’s one industry-wide takeaway from Society Hill, it’s this: don’t wait for contamination to tell you your process is broken.

The Price of Cutting Corners

What happened in Society Hill started with good intentions—reduce waste, save money, help local farmers. But the lack of transparency, testing, and long-term planning turned a cost-saving measure into an environmental disaster that could take decades to fix.

The true cost of that “free” fertilizer is now measured in contaminated wells, poisoned farmland, lost public trust, and looming cleanup expenses.

We help companies take a different path—one grounded in compliance, sustainability, and strategic foresight. We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between doing what’s right for the environment and what’s smart for your bottom line. With the right tools and partners, you can do both.

If you’re ready to take a closer look at your waste streams and avoid the hidden costs of short-sighted decisions, contact us for a sustainability consult or demo. We’ll help you stay ahead of regulations, avoid liability, and build a more resilient operation from the ground up.