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If you work in the construction industry, then it’s likely that the work you do, predominantly excavation work, generates waste that will need to be removed from your worksite. In these instances, then you’ll likely arrange muck away services.
When arranging such services, you will first be required to provide the waste removal company with a soil report, which determines whether or not the soil being removed is hazardous or not - this is important to know so that it can then be disposed of accordingly.
What is a Soil Report?
A soil report looks at various characteristics of the soil waste you’ve produced, accurately assessing its contamination levels so that its waste classification can be determined - either inert, hazardous or nonhazardous.
If it’s concluded that you have contaminated soil waste, then it may also be necessary for your soil to undergo Waste Criteria Acceptance (WCA) testing, which determines which type of landfill site your soil waste can be sent to. As for inert soil, this is deemed safe, thus can be reused or recycled.
What’s Included in a Soil Report?
Whilst you are responsible for arranging a soil report as the producer of the construction waste, the report itself must be completed by a competent and qualified individual.
As for the report itself, this will analyse soil for a range of contaminants, mainly:
Heavy metals
Hydrocarbons
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are known to have a significant negative impact on both human and environmental health. In fact, most heavy metals are classified as carcinogens, making them cancerous to humans, whilst also being known to bioaccumulate in various organisms.
Heavy metals are highly persistent in soils, which can lead to them accumulating to high concentrations and polluting the environment. Some examples of heavy metals that can be found in soil include lead, zinc and cadmium.
Hydrocarbons
There are two predominant ways hydrocarbon contamination can occur. The first is by accidental release, such as spillages or fuel emissions, which can lead to contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons. The other is through contaminating activities, such as burning organic matter (e.g. crop residues, wood etc.), which can cause polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to contaminate soils.
Hydrocarbons release vapours that are harmful to human health, whilst additionally causing negative environmental impacts when contaminating soils.
Arranging Waste Away Services
As you can see, a soil report is important for determining the classification of your soil waste, so that when it’s taken away for disposal we can dispose of it safely and accordingly.
If you require waste away services in the South-East, then look to us here at Mark Luck. Operating in London, Kent and Sussex, we provide professional and licensed waste away services, ensuring all the waste we collect is disposed of responsibly.
Get in touch with us today to arrange your waste removal.
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