Inert Limits

Schedule A.4 "Limit values for Pollutant Content for Inert Waste Landfills" from our EPA Waste Licence W0129-02 sets out the acceptance criteria we must adhere to when accepting wastes that may contain contamination.

The limit values set in Schedule A.4 of our EPA Waste Licence are taken from the 2002 European Landfill Directive (2003/33/EC). The 2002 Landfill Directive establishes criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills throughout Europe. It is the basic framework we employ when classifying wastes which are suspected to contain contamination, if there is any suspicion that the waste is contaminated a representative sample of the waste must be sent to an accredited laboratory to undergo specific analysis. The certified analysis results are then compared to the limits set in Schedule A.4 of our EPA Waste Licence W0129-02 and the waste is then deemed acceptable or unacceptable.

The following table presents the limits currently applicable at MEHL: -

Parameter Note Liquid:Solid = 10 l/kg
mg/kg dry substance		 Total Pollutant Content
mg/kg dry substance
Arsenic (as As) 7 0.5 N/A
Barium (as Ba) 7 20.0 N/A
Cadmium (as Cd) 7 0.04 N/A
Total Chromium (as Cr) 7 0.5 N/A
Copper (as Cu) 7 2.0 N/A
Mercury (as Hg) 7 0.01 N/A
Molybdenum (as Mo) 7 0.5 N/A
Nickel (as Ni) 7 0.4 N/A
Lead (as Pb) 7 0.5 N/A
Antimony (as Cb) 7 0.06 N/A
Selenium (as Se) 7 0.1 N/A
Zinc (as Zn) 7 4.0 N/A
Chloride 7 800.0 N/A
Fluoride 7 10.0 N/A
Sulphate 1,7 1000.0 N/A
Phenol index 7 1.0 N/A
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) 2 500.0 N/A
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 3,7 4000.0 N/A
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) 4,8 N/A 30,000.0
BTEX 5 N/A 6.0
PCB (7 congeners) - N/A 1.0
Mineral Oil (C10-C40) - N/A 500.0
Total 17 PAH 6 N/A 100.0
% Dry Matter Content - N/A < 14%

You can download a guide to our waste acceptance criteria below: -

Note 1: If the waste does not meet these values for sulphate, it may still be considered as complying with the acceptance criteria if the leaching does not exceed either of the following values: 1500 mg/kg as C0 at L/S = 0.1 l/kg and 6000mg/kg at L/S = 10 l/kg. It will be necessary to use a percolation test to determine the limit value at L/S = 0.1 l/kg under initial equilibrium conditions, whereas the value at L/S = 10 l/kg may be determined either by a batch leaching test or by a percolation test under conditions approaching local equilibrium.

Note 2: If the waste does not meet these values for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at its own pH value, it may alternatively be tested at L/S = 10 l/kg and a pH between 7.5 and 8.0. The waste may be considered as complying with the acceptance criteria for DOC, if the result of this determination does not exceed 500 mg/kg. (A draft method based on prEN 14429 is available).

Note 3: The values for TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) can be used alternatively to the values for Sulphate and Chloride.

Note 4: The TOC limit value is complied with as long as the loss on ignition does not exceed 5% per weight. In the case of soils a higher limit value may be admitted by the Agency, provided the Dissolved Organic Carbon at pH 7 (DOC7) value of 500 mg/kg is achieved.

Note 5: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene.

Note 6: For determining the total of PAH, the following 17 compounds must be added to a sum:

  • Flouranthene
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • Benzo(b)flouranthene
  • Benzo(k)flouranthene
  • Benzo(g,h,I)perylene
  • Indeno(1,2,3,-c,d)pyrene
  • Naphthalene
  • Acenaphthylene
  • Acenaphthene
  • Fluorene (9H-Fluorene)
  • Phenanthrene
  • Anthracene
  • Pyrene
  • Chrysene
  • Benzo(a)anthracene
  • Dibenzo (a,h) anthracene
  • Coronene