WAC Testing
Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing assesses whether a waste is suitable for acceptance at a particular class of landfill. We plan the sampling, arrange specialist laboratory analysis and report the results clearly, so you and your waste contractor can confirm a suitable disposal route.
What Is WAC Testing?
Landfill sites can only accept waste that meets the acceptance criteria for that type of landfill: inert, non-hazardous or hazardous. WAC testing usually involves leaching tests and analysis of the solid waste, and the results are compared with the limits that apply to the landfill being considered. WAC testing is not the same as waste classification. Waste classification, carried out in line with the Environment Agency's technical guidance (WM3), establishes whether a waste is hazardous or non-hazardous and identifies the appropriate waste code. WAC testing does not establish the classification of the waste. It assesses whether waste that has already been classified is suitable for acceptance at a particular landfill. Classification comes first, and WAC testing is then carried out where the intended landfill requires it.
When Is WAC Testing Needed?
- When classified waste is being considered for disposal to landfill and the receiving site requires WAC results
- When excavated soils or made ground are being considered for disposal to an inert or hazardous waste landfill
- When hazardous waste is being considered for a hazardous waste landfill or a dedicated cell at a non-hazardous landfill
- When a waste contractor or receiving site asks for WAC results before accepting a load
- When comparing disposal options for excavation arisings on construction and groundworks projects
Who Needs WAC Testing?
- Groundworks and civil engineering contractors
- Developers and principal contractors managing excavation arisings
- Demolition and enabling works contractors
- Waste producers fulfilling their duty of care
- Consultants and project managers planning disposal routes
- Landowners preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment
What You Receive
- Sampling plan agreed against your project scope and intended disposal route
- Representative sampling of the waste or soils being considered for landfill
- Specialist laboratory WAC analysis, including leaching tests where required
- Written report with sample locations, laboratory results and a comparison with the relevant landfill acceptance limits
- Clear explanation of how the WAC results relate to, but are separate from, waste classification
Our WAC Testing Process
Scope & Disposal Route
We confirm the waste or soils involved, any existing waste classification information and the type of landfill being considered, and agree the sampling and analysis required.
Representative Sampling
We take representative samples of the material, recording sample locations and depths so the results can be related back to the areas of the site concerned.
Specialist Laboratory Analysis
Samples are sent to a specialist laboratory for WAC analysis, which typically includes leaching tests and analysis of the solid waste against the limits for the relevant landfill class.
Reporting
You receive a clear report setting out the results against the relevant acceptance limits, so you and your waste contractor can confirm whether the waste is suitable for the landfill being considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WAC testing the same as waste classification?
No. Waste classification, in line with the Environment Agency's WM3 guidance, establishes whether a waste is hazardous or non-hazardous and identifies the appropriate waste code. WAC testing assesses whether a waste is suitable for acceptance at a particular landfill. WAC results do not establish the classification of the waste, so waste must be classified before WAC testing is used to assess a landfill route.
Does all waste need WAC testing?
Not always. Whether WAC testing is required depends on the classification of the waste and the type of landfill being considered. Your waste contractor or the receiving site will confirm their acceptance requirements, and we can advise on the testing needed for your project.
What does WAC testing involve?
WAC testing usually involves leaching tests, which measure how much of certain substances could leach out of the waste, together with analysis of the solid waste itself. The results are compared with the acceptance limits for the relevant landfill class: inert, non-hazardous or hazardous.
Can WAC testing be combined with soil contamination testing?
Yes. Where soils are being investigated for contamination, including asbestos in soils, sampling for waste classification and WAC testing can be planned at the same time where this is agreed within the scope, so the information needed for disposal planning is gathered together.
How long do WAC results take?
Timescales depend on the number of samples, the analysis required and the laboratory programme. We confirm expected timescales when we agree the scope of work.
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