WAC Testing
Accredited analysis for water-industry soil-reuse compliance — keeping your installation programme stable and adoption-ready.
Do you need WAC testing?
You may need WAC testing if you’re disposing of excavated soils, redevelopment spoil, or material from demolition and remediation works. WAC results confirm the correct landfill class so your project avoids cost, non-compliance, or rejected loads.
This early clarity protects you from last-minute delays and unplanned redesign.
WAC Testing is often required when:
- disposing of soils from brownfield sites
- determining whether waste is inert, non-hazardous or hazardous
- remediating contamination
- complying with Duty of Care and waste-transfer regulations
- preparing spoil management strategies for planning
What is WAC Testing?
Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing classifies soil or waste according to the leachable contaminants that could impact landfill receptors. It determines whether material must be disposed of as inert, non-hazardous, or hazardous, and ensures compliance with environmental permitting and landfill requirements.
WAC testing does not determine whether soil is contaminated for planning — it determines what type of landfill can legally accept it.
Tests typically include:
- leachate metals (arsenic, lead, chromium, zinc, copper)
- leachate sulphate and chloride
- leachate ammonia
- DOC (dissolved organic carbon)
- phenols
- BTEX and TPH leachates
- pH, conductivity, TOC
Your outputs are structured for disposal contractors, planners and environmental regulators.
Signs You Need a WAC Test
Physical / Site Triggers:
- excavation of brownfield soils
- soil containing demolition materials
- site clearance generating mixed waste
- odours, staining, or unusual soil colour
- material with potential leachability risk
Administrative / Regulatory Triggers:
- landfill requesting WAC evidence
- Duty of Care documentation incomplete
- remediation conditions requiring disposal classification
- waste-transfer stations querying material type
- planning requesting evidence of appropriate soil management
What We Deliver
A structured, proportionate, planning-ready service.
| Service | Purpose | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Sampling Review | Confirm required tests and disposal pathways. | Clear scope and low-risk sampling strategy. |
| Soil Sampling | Obtain representative samples with correct methodology. | Accurate data and reliable chain-of-custody. |
| Accredited Laboratory Testing | Perform full leachate analysis and classification. | Defensible WAC dataset for disposal. |
| WAC Classification Report | Assign inert / non-hazardous / hazardous class. | Structured reporting accepted by landfill operators. |
| Disposal Strategy Guidance | Outline compliant, cost-effective routes. | Predictable, controllable waste movement. |
That’s how classification stays accurate, disposal stays predictable, and your programme stays on schedule.
How it Works
Scope & Confirmation
Send your project location, disposal volume and any previous testing. We confirm sampling needs and costs.
Sampling
A qualified consultant collects representative samples and coordinates accredited laboratory analysis.
Reporting
You receive a landfill-ready WAC report with clear classification and disposal guidance.
Case Insight
Timing & Delivery
Sampling
Year-round availability
Turnaround
within 10 working days (including lab analysis)
Urgent Cases
Expedited testing available nationwide
Each week gained here protects your adoption programme and prevents costly redesign or resubmission.
Who uses our WAC Testing Services?
- Developers and contractors
- Remediation specialists
- Planning and environmental consultants
- Waste management companies
- Utility and infrastructure contractors
- Local authorities managing brownfield sites
What You Receive:
- Representative soil sampling
- Laboratory analysis by accredited facilities
- WAC classification: inert / non-hazardous / hazardous
- Clear interpretation of leachate results
- Disposal guidance aligned with permitting rules
- Nationwide coverage and predictable turnaround
Legal Compliance & Disposal Risk
WAC testing supports compliance under:
- Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
- Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC
- Relevant British Standards sampling protocols
- Duty of Care Regulations
- Hazardous Waste Regulations
- Local planning and remediation guidance
Missing or incorrect WAC classification can result in:
- rejected waste at landfill
- surcharges or re-testing costs
- programme delay due to re-routing disposal
- regulatory non-compliance penalties
- unplanned stockpiling and site congestion
Early WAC clarity keeps disposal predictable and prevents downstream disruption.
Your Next Step
Need WAC testing? We’ll confirm your requirements and deliver clear, compliant classification — fast.
Phone: 0800 494 7479
Email: [email protected]
WAC Testing FAQs
Do I need WAC testing or contamination testing?
They serve different purposes. WAC classifies waste for landfill. Contamination testing evaluates site suitability for planning or remediation. Many projects require both for different reasons.
Is WAC required for all soil disposal?
Landfills typically require WAC results for any soil other than clean, uncontaminated subsoil. Brownfield or mixed spoil almost always requires testing.
Can WAC results reclassify my waste as hazardous?
Yes. High leachable contaminants (e.g., sulphate, metals, ammoniacal nitrogen, hydrocarbons) may trigger hazardous classification. Early testing prevents unplanned cost.
How many samples do I need?
This depends on soil variability and disposal volume. After a quick review, we recommend a proportionate sampling plan that avoids overspending.
What does WAC not test for?
It does not test for all contaminants or assess risk for planning. It tests what might leach from the soil once at landfill.
Will you arrange disposal for me?
We don’t dispose of waste, but we provide classification and guidance that your disposal contractor can rely on immediately.
Can you fast-track WAC testing?
Yes — expedited sampling and lab times are available for time-critical excavations.
Do you offer nationwide sampling?
Yes. We operate throughout the UK with predictable turnaround.
How long are WAC results valid?
Results typically remain valid until conditions or stockpiles change — we’ll advise if re-testing is needed.
