Specialist contaminated land and water analysis for environmental protection and infrastructural maintenance.


With decades of experience in the chemical analysis of contaminated land and water, The Environmental Laboratory (Elab) helps all businesses that make emissions to land, air, and water remain fully compliant. Our soil, water, and leachate testing services include soil and water, inorganics and organics, geotechnical chemical, and metals analysis, as well as asbestos identification and quantification, waste acceptance criteria, and waste characterisation testing. Our skilled team is dedicated to delivering timely and accurate results to customers, with fast track processing available for some tests.

Manage your waste compliance quickly and easily


Elab’s link with HazWasteOnline (HWOL) makes your waste compliance management more efficient and effective. Customers can rapidly upload all their laboratory data (including Waste Classification WM3 data) and then classify samples as either hazardous or non-hazardous.

Previously, customers had to copy and paste their final reports from Elab into their own systems. Engineers can now directly download their results into a standardised format, saving them time and reducing human error. This gives customers full confidence in accurate results.

Every report details each sample’s classification based on the latest technical guidance, legislation, and data. They also explain the reason for the classification and present the hazard properties and statement codes, helping customers make insightful decisions and support a safer, healthier planet.

Contaminated land

Addressing historic land contamination is necessary to prevent unacceptable risks to human health and the environment, and to bring contaminated land back into safe use. Elab’s soil, water, and leachate analysis services provide data on the levels of toxic chemicals in soil and water and its effect on the environment for site investigators, remediation specialists, engineering consultants, and geotechnical and geo-environmental experts across the UK. Our range of testing services include metals and organic compounds analysis, as well as other parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, and total organic carbon.

Asbestos testing

Whilst asbestos has not been used in construction since 1999, it is estimated that 6 million tonnes remain inside buildings across the UK. As a class 1 carcinogen that can cause respiratory diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma, it is important to detect asbestos and determine exposure levels. Our UKAS accredited services include identification of asbestos in soil and bulk materials, as well as quantification of asbestos in soil samples.

Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing

The Landfill Directive places controls on waste disposal, including required waste acceptance procedures, and sets stringent targets to gradually reduce the UK’s industrial and municipal waste sent to landfill. Elab helps customers ensure that waste intended for landfill meets the acceptance criteria of the disposal site with our comprehensive waste acceptance criteria (WAC) testing services, including full, inert, and hazardous waste suites. We also undertake testing to support waste characterisation procedures.

Trade effluent/waste discharge analysis

Over 200 million litres of trade effluent are discharged daily into the UK’s sewerage network for treatment before being returned safely to the environment. Any liquid produced and discharged into the public sewerage system as part of a company’s business activities on trading premises requires consent from the local sewage waste undertakers. Elab provides trade effluent and waste discharge analysis services. Every service includes a tailored report covering all typical contaminants limited and controlled by waste sewage undertakers such as toxic metals, pH, ammonia, and organics. We can also offer bespoke contaminant testing parameters for specific customer requirements.

Topsoil/subsoil analysis

Topsoil is an important component of any groundwork project, from private gardens and horticultural projects to the development of Olympic parks around the world. It supports the growth of vegetation, providing the anchorage for plant roots, retaining moisture, and draining excess water. Elab provides analysis services using the BS3882 standard for landscaping or remediation projects. We can also provide particle size distribution (PSD) testing upon request.

Waste Classification (WM3) analysis

Over 40 million tonnes of industrial and commercial waste are generated from factories, chemical plants, and construction sites every year in the UK. The classification of waste is a legal requirement, and misclassification can result in ill-health in humans and animals and long-lasting harm to the environment. Elab’s analysis services help customers determine potential uses for their waste as well as management and disposal options. All reports are available in HWOL format.