A complete request for thermal soil treatment contains all the information that a licensed waste management company needs to assess the treatability of the material, prepare a quote, and draw up the regulatory acceptance documentation. This includes information on the origin of the soil, the type and concentration of contaminants, as well as quantities and scheduling. The following sections answer the most frequently asked questions about submitting such a request.
What information is mandatory for a thermal soil treatment request?
A request for thermal soil treatment must include at a minimum the following core information: the location and origin of the contaminated material, the type and concentration of identified contaminants, the quantities to be disposed of, and the planned delivery period. Without this information, a proper assessment is not possible.
The following details are specifically relevant:
- Site name and address of the remediation project
- Type of material (soil, construction rubble, dredged material, sludge, or process residues)
- Contaminant profile with measured concentrations from an accredited laboratory analysis
- Total quantity in tonnes as well as planned delivery volumes per week or month
- Desired timeframe for the start and completion of disposal
- Client details and, where applicable, details of the contracted civil engineering or remediation company
The more complete this information is, the faster a feasibility assessment can be carried out and a binding quote prepared.
How are soil samples correctly taken for contaminant analysis?
Soil samples for contaminant analysis must be representative of the entire material to be disposed of. Sampling should follow recognized technical standards, in particular LAGA PN 98 or DIN 19698, and must be carried out by a qualified person. Results must come from an accredited laboratory.
The following principles apply for meaningful analysis:
- Composite samples made up of multiple individual samples better reflect the composition of the total material than individual samples alone.
- Samples should be taken from various depths and areas of the contaminated zone to capture heterogeneities.
- Where known contamination hotspots exist, targeted samples from the most heavily affected areas are advisable.
- Samples must be transported in suitable, gas-tight containers to prevent loss of volatile contaminants such as BTEX or TPH.
- The analytical scope should be tailored to the site-specific use history, for example PAH at former gasworks sites or PCB at industrial sites.
Inadequate sampling frequently leads to follow-up requests and significantly delays the entire process.
Which contaminants can be treated in a thermal desorption plant?
A thermal desorption plant can treat organic contaminants that decompose or can be transferred to the gas phase at elevated temperatures. The range includes, among others, TPH, BTEX, PAH, phenols, PCB, PFAS/PFOS, PCDD/PCDF, cyanides, nitroaromatics, and a wide variety of chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. Mercury (Hg) can also be treated in suitable plants.
The treatability of a contaminant depends on its thermal stability and the operating temperature of the plant. In the rotary kiln, the material is heated to temperatures between 250 and 560 °C under exclusion of oxygen. Contaminants are either directly destroyed or vaporized and subsequently removed from the exhaust gas in a multi-stage off-gas treatment system comprising thermal afterburning, flue gas scrubbing, and activated carbon filtration.
As a rule, inorganic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, or arsenic cannot be treated by thermal desorption, as these are not destroyed at the temperatures mentioned. For such contaminations, other disposal routes are required, for example as part of a comprehensive material flow management approach.
What happens after a complete request is received?
Once a complete request for thermal soil treatment is received, the material is first assessed for technical treatability. Based on the analytical data, the type of material, and the quantity, it is determined whether acceptance is possible and under what conditions. A response is typically provided within a few working days.
The typical process is as follows:
- Acknowledgment of receipt and initial review of the documents
- Technical assessment of the contaminant profile and material characteristics
- Request for missing documents if the submission is incomplete
- Quote preparation including pricing, acceptance conditions, and timeline
- Coordination of delivery logistics following order placement
For complex contaminations or large quantities, an extended preliminary assessment may be required, such as a laboratory pre-trial or an on-site technical consultation.
Which documents and certificates must be included with the request?
A request for thermal soil treatment must generally be accompanied by a current analytical test report from an accredited laboratory, details of the waste type and waste code number in accordance with AVV, and, where required, a disposal certificate or declaration analysis. These documents form the basis for the regulatory acceptance documentation.
The following documents are specifically relevant:
- Laboratory analysis with a full parameter scope, no older than twelve months
- Waste code number in accordance with the Waste Catalogue Ordinance (AVV)
- Proof of origin or information on the material’s history (for example, ground investigation report, contaminated land assessment)
- Disposal certificate for hazardous waste in accordance with the Evidence Ordinance (NachwV)
- Consignment note for the transport of hazardous waste, where applicable
For certain waste types or origins, additional permits or certificates may be required. In case of doubt, early coordination with the licensed waste management company is recommended to avoid delays. Information on quality management and applicable standards can help in preparing your own documents accordingly.
Which mistakes delay or prevent the processing of a request?
The most common mistakes in a thermal soil treatment request are incomplete or outdated analytical data, missing information on the waste origin, and an overly tight or unrealistic delivery window. These shortcomings regularly lead to follow-up queries and significantly extend processing times.
A summary of specific sources of error:
- Outdated laboratory analyses: Analyses older than twelve months are generally not accepted and must be renewed.
- Incomplete parameter scope: If relevant contaminants are missing from the analytical report, a treatability assessment cannot be made.
- Missing waste code number: Without the correct AVV classification, acceptance documentation cannot be prepared.
- No information on origin: Unknown or undocumented origin complicates the regulatory evidence process.
- Unrealistic quantity or timing specifications: Very short-notice delivery requests or highly variable quantities make capacity planning difficult.
- Missing contact details: Unclear responsibilities on the client side delay follow-up queries and coordination.
Anyone who takes these points into account when compiling the request will avoid unnecessary waiting times and enable a swift quote to be prepared.
How ARE Deutzen GmbH supports you with your thermal soil treatment request
ARE Deutzen GmbH has specialized in the thermal treatment of contaminated mineral waste for over 30 years and supports clients from the initial request through to completed disposal. As a certified waste management company (EfB), ARE Deutzen provides concrete support at every stage:
- Expert assessment of analytical data and material treatability
- Advice on correct waste declaration and AVV classification
- Handling of acceptance documentation and regulatory evidence requirements
- Flexible delivery planning for projects of any scale
- Treatment of a broad contaminant spectrum in the rotary kiln at up to 560 °C
- Multi-stage off-gas treatment to reliably comply with all emission limit values
Whether contaminated land remediation, revitalization of an industrial site, or disposal of process residues: ARE Deutzen develops tailored solutions for demanding remediation projects. Contact us now and send your request directly to the specialist team to receive a fast and binding response.