"TECNALIA is the leading technological partner for leachate analysis of all types of waste"
We provide accredited waste analysis services for industry
Industrial and municipal waste management is facing a growing challenge: controlling the generation and composition of leachate, liquid generated by the solubilisation of pollutants in rainwater through waste, to avoid soil and groundwater contamination. In this context, our Waste Characterisation Laboratory, provides accredited waste analysis services (general composition and leachate matrix), essential for sectors such as manufacturing industry, energy, chemicals, construction, waste management, agro-industry and public administrations, ensuring safe and compliant management decisions.
Leachate, the main technical challenge in environmental management
Leachate represents one of the main technical challenges in environmental management. Its composition may include heavy metals, salts, persistent organic compounds or hydrocarbons, making its assessment a critical step in determining the hazardousness of the waste and defining its final destination in accordance with European and Spanish regulations.
We help industry avoid penalties, ensure traceability and guarantee responsible environmental management
The regulatory framework requires standardised methodologies and traceable results to ensure the reliability of analyses.
The most relevant references include
- UNE-EN 12457-4:2003, which establishes the leaching test for granular waste and sludge;
- Decree 646/2020 of 7th July regulating the disposal of waste by landfill;
- Regulation (EU) 1357/2014, defining the hazard characteristics (HP) for waste classification;
- and Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils, which constitutes the Spanish regulatory framework for environmental management and control.
Compliance with these standards is essential to avoid penalties, ensure traceability and guarantee environmentally responsible management.
We are the leading technological partner in comprehensive leachate analysis
TECNALIA is positioned as a leading technological partner , providing a comprehensive leachate analysis service for all types of waste: hazardous, non-hazardous or inert. Its scope includes industrial waste, sludge and contaminated soils, construction and demolition waste, as well as municipal and agro-industrial waste. This versatility responds to the needs of a wide range of sectors, from large industries to waste operators and local authorities.
As the Head of TECNALIA's Waste Characterisation Laboratory, Silvia Gil, explains, "leachate analysis is a critical element to understand the real behaviour of waste and anticipate associated environmental risks. At our laboratory, we use advanced methodologies that enable us to accurately identify the mobility of metals, organic compounds and other potentially hazardous substances. This information is key to defining safer, more sustainable and compliant management strategies. The objective is clear: transform analytical data into decisions that minimise environmental impact and ensure the protection of soil, water and ecosystems.
We guarantee reliable, reproducible and legally valid results
TECNALIA's Waste Characterisation Laboratory applies standardised methodologies and uses highly sensitive equipment to guarantee reliable, reproducible and legally valid results. This technical capacity, along with its experience in regulatory interpretation and specialised guidance, makes TECNALIA a strategic ally to ensure safe and efficient waste management that is fully aligned with European and Spanish regulatory requirements.