Landfill Monitoring and Testing

Element's comprehensive landfill monitoring, waste testing, and EfW compliance services help you prevent unnecessary disposal costs, avoid legal ramifications, and ensure regulatory compliance. Our advanced testing and monitoring solutions identify risks precisely, while our UKAS-MCERTS accredited services deliver rapid results. Our tailored solutions give you the data needed to address potential environmental hazards, optimize landfill operations, and safeguard surrounding communities. We support energy from waste (EfW) operators in achieving environmental compliance through emissions monitoring and environmental analysis.

Element scientist with white coat and baseball hat standing in lab with large chemical analysis container

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What is Landfill Monitoring and Testing at Element?

Landfill monitoring and testing involves comprehensive tracking of gas migration, waste characterization, and environmental compliance to prevent environmental and health risks from landfill operations.

At Element, we provide comprehensive landfill monitoring and testing services, including gas migration monitoring, waste acceptance criteria testing, isotopic analysis, and environmental compliance analysis. Our testing helps businesses ensure compliance with environmental regulations, identify potential risks, and safeguard surrounding ecosystems. With advanced equipment and expert guidance, we offer accurate, reliable results for effective landfill management. We also offer services across energy from waste plants to support operators in maintaining compliance with permits and minimizing environmental and health impacts.

Environmental testing scientist analyzing chemical samples in Element laboratory

What Can Element Offer You For Landfill Monitoring and Testing?

What We Test

Element tests for methane, carbon dioxide, and a variety of trace gases including those from coal mines and marshes. We provide comprehensive testing for biogenic and thermogenic gases to ensure accurate migration data. For waste characterization, we analyze PCBs, hydrocarbons, PAHs, oil content, organic solvents, and asbestos to provide complete waste classification. In energy from waste settings, we test for pollutants in air, water, and soil (including VOC and dioxins and furans) to support full environmental compliance.

Key tests offered

Gas migration monitoring

Fingerprinting of methane and carbon dioxide

Isotope ratio analysis (C12, C13, C14)

Subsurface gas concentration tracking

TCLP testing for hazardous waste classification

Stack emissions monitoring (MCERTS)

Residence time verification

Ambient air quality monitoring

Occupational hygiene assessments

Paint-Filter Test for solids classification

Corrosivity and pH testing
Flammability testing including flashpoint and rope-burn tests
Microtox and aquatic toxicity testing

Methods And Solutions Offered

We use isotope ratio analysis (C12, C13, and C14) advanced methods to accurately differentiate between biogenic and thermogenic gas origins, along with subsurface analyzers for continuous gas concentration monitoring. Our solutions include pinpointing gas age with radio-isotopes and addressing excess migration issues.

Our comprehensive waste characterization services help you determine proper disposal methods and avoid unnecessary costs. We can help you identify alternative sources like nearby coal mines when compliance levels are approached or exceeded.

For energy from waste facilities, we offer end-to-end solutions, from regulatory emissions monitoring to lab-based analysis of by-products. We help EfW operators meet environmental permit limits across air, water, and soil pathways. Our environmental experts can help you design the best analytical suite needed for your specific waste streams and regional requirements, ensuring your waste acceptance testing stays in line with regulations.

Cutting-Edge Equipment We Use

Element utilizes advanced equipment for gas sampling, isotope ratio analysis, and trace compound detection. Our facilities are equipped with the latest technology for comprehensive landfill monitoring and testing. We deploy subsurface analyzers for continuous monitoring and trace compound analysis. We also deploy certified emissions monitoring systems and ISO 17025 accredited lab capabilities for dioxins, furans, VOCs, and more at EfW sites.

Labs That Offer This Service

Element offers environmental testing solutions throughout the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and South Africa. We are equipped with cutting-edge testing equipment and staffed by a global community of technical experts ready to assist you in achieving environmental and health & safety compliance. Contact our experts today.

Standards we test to and the products we test

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!

ISO/IEC 17025

US EPA Method 1311 (TCLP)

US EPA Method 1311

Industrial Emissions Directive 2010

UKAS-MCERTS standards

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

Managing Landfill Gas Migration

Element’s landfill gas monitoring helps identify and prevent the migration of methane and carbon dioxide. Our proactive monitoring ensures your gas control systems are functioning correctly and stays within safe levels.

Exceeding Compliance Levels

Element helps prevent gas levels from surpassing compliance thresholds, offering solutions and early warnings when methane or carbon dioxide exceed acceptable limits.

Accurate Waste Classification

Element provides WAC testing, including hazardous waste characterization, routine monitoring of landfill ground and surface waters, and control of landfill leachates and gasses.

Uncertain Gas Source Identification

With our fingerprinting techniques and isotope ratio analysis, Element identifies the origin of migrating gases, whether biogenic or thermogenic, to address migration sources effectively.

Why Choose Element

Element laboratory technician handling test samples with protective gloves in environmental testing lab

Accredited Testing

ISO/IEC 17025 and UKAS-accredited laboratories ensure reliable, high-quality results.

Expertise Across Multiple Standards

Compliance with regional and international standards, including EPA Method 1311.

Integrated Approach

Combine landfill gas monitoring, EfW and WAC testing, and waste classification services for streamlined compliance solutions.

Leaders in EfW

We conduct more EfW site testing across the UK, Ireland, and Europe than any other provider

3
key isotropes analyzed

C12, C13, and C14

EPA
method 1311

utilized

<1%
methane

limits

1.5%
carbon dioxide

limits

Element laboratory technician preparing samples with precision instruments for chemical analysis

Frequently asked questions

How is landfill gas measured?

Landfill gas is measured through gas extraction from perimeter wells and analysis of methane and carbon dioxide concentrations.

Why is WAC testing essential?

Waste characterization ensures proper classification of waste, preventing unnecessary disposal costs if deemed non-hazardous and avoiding legal and economic consequences from incorrect disposal.

What is the TCLP test method?

The TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) simulates landfill conditions to assess if waste leaches hazardous substances, following EPA Method 1311.

What is energy from waste (EfW)?

EfW plants incinerate waste to generate energy. Element helps operators maintain compliance by providing accredited emissions testing, hygiene monitoring, and environmental lab analysis.

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