The Environment Agency has recently published changes to the guidance for Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) analysis. The 2013 update supersedes the Technical Guidance on sampling and testing of waste to meet landfill waste acceptance procedures 2005.

ALS Environmental's Dr James Taylor and other ALS colleagues provided consultation in production of the new guidance alongside other key organisations involved in the Waste Management Industry. The new guidance alongside the EA’s Hazardous Waste Technical Guidance WM2 allows waste to be disposed of to landfill to be characterised to ensure that waste management operators fully understand the nature of the waste they will be receiving.

The guidance includes: Classification and Characterisation requirements for waste, actions that could be undertaken in the event of failing a test criterion and sampling schedules and testing requirements. It is changes to Appendix 3 (Key Laboratory Process Steps) which we at ALS Environmental believe would be of specific interest to our clients, such as:

• Waste Producers
• Waste Managers
• Landfill Operators

Previously the requirement was for the leaching of samples using method BS EN 12457-3 which involves a 2 stage leaching process (a moisture corrected 2:1 liquid to solid ratio leaching step for 6 hours followed by a moisture corrected 8:1 liquid to solid ratio leaching step on the remaining material for 18 hours).

The new requirement for method BS EN 12457-2 allows a single stage leaching process (moisture corrected 10:1 liquid to solid ratio leaching step for 24 hours).  This will mean that by selecting  the  BS EN 12457-2 method, ALS Environmental will be able to turnaround the analytical WAC reports quicker than the previous 2-stage leaching procedure outlined in BS EN 12457-3.

Dr James Taylor, Business Development Manager at ALS Environmental and who was involved in developing the regulatory advise

“The revised WAC guidance provides a more fit for purpose and accessible way of characterising your waste for landfill. We at ALS will be happy to discuss the advantages and that the changes to the guidance can provide to the waste management industry.”

ALS Environmental have a dedicated extraction department for the preparation of eluates from soils, this is located at our Contaminated Land laboratory in Coventry. We are able to provide results for WAC testing and an array of analysis on NRA Leachates within an 8 day turnaround. The extraction department can also undertake the NEN 7375 Monolithic Tank Test for either the 4 day or 64 day requirement as outlined in the regulations.

If you would like more details on the regulations or for an updated quotation for either the  BS EN 12457 WAC analysis or the NEN 7375 Monolithic Tank Tests then please contact us or call 02476 42 12 13.