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Waste Doctors: Specialist Characterisation & Recovery

Bespoke solutions for effective product and waste management, characterisation and classification.

Jane Turrell is our expert Waste Doctor

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Sustainable waste management

The transition to a circular economy demands improvements in processes, resource efficiency and our ability to recover value from waste resources. WRc’s waste doctors help manufacturers, waste producers and trade bodies across multiple industrial sectors achieve sustainability goals and ensure regulatory compliance.

Our waste management services include resource recovery supported by waste characterisation, hazardous property and environmental risk assessment, testing in our in-house laboratories and consultancy.

We highlight ‘problem’ parameters which may compromise zero waste to landfill and other resource recovery goals.

Bespoke, optimised methods

We undertake specialist testing (e.g., X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), selective chemical extraction, geochemical and thermodynamic modelling, and weight of evidence reviews of chemical classifications). These can be used to obtain a more favourable outcome than face-value comparisons of worst case compounds against hazardous property concentration limits.

Using bespoke approaches and novel test methods that uniquely position us between routine laboratories and universities, we help clients understand the characteristics, and optimise the value, of their waste. As an independent trusted advisor to industry, our verified solutions have credibility with the regulators.

Holistic approach to waste characterisation

Unique blend of in-house laboratory testing, approved supplier labs and consultancy expertise to provide bespoke solutions to waste classification and resource recovery challenges.

Meaningful and understandable reporting

We care about ensuring you avoid waste misclassification, optimise compliance and safeguard your reputation - not simply supplying lab results.

Trusted and credible within the industry

Trusted, independent partner of key trade bodies working within the waste and resources industry, providing solutions that have credibility with the regulators.

Experts with proven industry experience

Our people have proven experience supporting waste producers from various industries to improve their processes and achieve their sustainability goals.

  • Multi-faceted assessments
  • Bespoke testing
  • Innovation toolbox
  • Wider applications
  • Metal speciation to inform ecotoxicity assessments
  • Practical laboratory trials to assess treatment options
  • POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) assessments in challenging materials
  • Managing in vitro testing to inform irritancy assessments
  • Tiered hazardous property assessments to improve waste classification outcomes
  • Feedstock evaluation to assess suitability or compliance
  • Sampling and test programme designed to maximise the value of waste
  • Bespoke sample preparation to improve testing efficacy
  • Up-front methodology development to overcome testing challenges
  • Practical approaches to assessing materials from new treatment technologies
  • Data benchmarking for new products or residues
  • Product performance assessments to support end of waste applications
  • Avoiding misclassification to safeguard reputation
  • Assessing recovery options to achieve sustainability goals
  • Carbon capture evaluation
  • Technology evaluation supported by practical laboratory trials to assess treatment options
The collaboration with WRc is an ideal example for a partnership between academia and the private sector: cooperative, forward-looking and a win for both sides. WRc has made use of DESY's beamtime services for several projects at our X-Ray absorption spectroscopy beamlines P64 and P65. WRc is a very reliable and experienced partner in using results of synchrotron measurements for their environmental research, such as the characterization of potential toxic elements to improve material recovery and avoid landfill disposal. These measurements are an example how large scale infrastructure can have a positive effect for environmental research and have a real impact on the development of sustainable technologies.

Oliver Wendt, Industry Service Manager and Business Development
German Electron Synchrotron (DESY)

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Jane Turrell

Technical Director (Waste & Resources)

Jane has extensive experience in technical consultancy relating to sampling plan design to provide representative samples and test data to inform waste characterisation, waste minimisation, waste recycling and resource efficiency studies. She has undertaken technical waste projects for a wide spectrum of environmental regulators, industrial waste producers, waste management companies and their trade bodies all aimed at providing robust and accurate evidence to support policy and business decisions. Jane is also heavily involved in the design and completion of environmental impact and risk assessments for the recycling of wastes to land.

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