Waste Characterization

Eurofins routinely performs Waste Characterization testing on solid and liquid samples to determine if material is considered hazardous based on the RCRA definition in 40 CFR Subpart 261. The data we produce assists our clients in determining proper waste management and disposal practices. Working with a trusted and well qualified laboratory for waste testing is critical to ensure you receive results of the highest quality when completing waste characterization activities.

Under RCRA, EPA developed standards for the disposal of potentially hazardous wastes in the United States. In order for wastes to be accepted at the majority of municipal landfills throughout the country, it must be demonstrated that the material being disposed of meets EPA’s definitions of a non-hazardous waste. To achieve this we test solids, liquids and other waste materials using several testing protocols:

• Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure (TCLP) by Method SW-846 1311 is used to determine the mobility of organic and inorganic contaminants in potentially hazardous waste. The leaching process simulate condition present in a landfill as liquids percolate through the solid waste. In the laboratory, solid wastes are placed in a sealed vessel with leaching fluid. The vessel is then rotated, or tumbled, for approximately 18 hours and the resulting leachate is analyzed. The TCLP method includes a specific list of organic and inorganic compounds, and includes regulatory levels for each compound. Federal regulation for the use of TCLP can be found in 40 CFR 261.24.
  
  One or all of the following analyses are performed on the leachate/filtrate sample:
  • Volatiles by SW-846 8260B
  • Semivolatiles by SW-846 8270C/D
  • Pesticides by SW-846 8081A/B
  • Herbicides by SW-846 8151A
  • Metals by SW-846 6010B/7470A
• Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) by Method SW-846 1312 is used to determine the pollutant mobility of organic and inorganic contaminants under conditions that simulate acidic rainwater percolating through a sample. The analytical procedure is similar to that of TCLP, but with the introduction of a different leaching fluid.
  
  One or all of the following analyses are performed on the leachate/filtrate sample:
  • Volatiles by SW-846 8260B
  • Semivolatiles by SW-846 8270C/D
  • Pesticides by SW-846 8081A/B
  • Herbicides by SW-846 8151A
  • Metals by SW-846 6010B/7470A
• Corrosivity - SW-846 Chapter 7
• Ignitability (Solids) - 40 CFR 261.21
• Flashpoint (Liquids) - ASTM D 93-07 or SW-846 1010A
• Cyanide and Sulfide Reactivity - SW-846 Chapter 7/9012A Mod/9034
• Soluble Threshold Limit Concentration (STLC) Waste Extraction Test (WET) based on CCR Title 22 WET Section 66700, available for our clients located in California. The STLC leaching procedure is similar to TCLP.

Eurofins Environment Testing’s nationwide laboratory network offers unmatched capacity and technical expertise to meet the needs of any project, from routine waste classifications to complex, large toxicity determinations.