This Technical Bulletin has been prepared for customers conducting sample preparation and testing to support Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) linked to the requirements of The Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 as amended (The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023). Sample preparation requirements are stipulated in BS EN 12457:2002 (parts 1 through 4).
UKAS has completed a review of schedules of accreditation for those reporting Waste Acceptance Criteria data under accreditation. The review was required to address inconsistencies across schedules of accreditation for those laboratories conducting Waste Acceptance Criteria work.
Assessments across 2024 have been used to ascertain whether Waste Acceptance Criteria testing is reported under accreditation. If required, it has subsequently been confirmed that methodology has been suitably verified, and ongoing quality control covering both the sample preparation and testing is in place. Improvement actions have been raised in relation to this as appropriate.
Where required, and subject to satisfactory clearance of improvement actions raised, schedules of accreditation are to be updated to clearly reference the sample preparation leaching methods to BS EN 12457:2002 (Parts 1 through 4) conducted under accreditation, with the BS EN 12457:2002 preparation method to be further referenced alongside the subsequent analytical test methods for clarity. This process is ongoing and to be completed Q1 2025, once the 2024 round of assessments are concluded.
If not previously subject to witnessed assessment, there is a requirement to witness the preparation of leachates to BS EN 12457:2002 (parts 1 through 4), with this to be factored into the four-year cycle of assessments.
For customers considering offering accredited Waste Acceptance Criteria work, there is a requirement to verify both the leachate preparation process and subsequent leachate testing methods, alongside ensuring the leaching process is subject to periodic analytical quality control.
Organics analysis in support of WAC testing is not conducted on prepared leachates but rather on the raw waste materials. Again, customers are required to ensure that a suitable matrix has been verified to support method fitness for purpose.
For any queries relating to this Technical Bulletin, please contact your Assessment Manager.
Download this Technical Bulletin as a pdf here.