ASTM D5956-15

Standard Guide for Sampling Strategies for Heterogeneous Wastes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This guide is suitable for sampling heterogeneous wastes.  
3.2 The focus of this guidance is on wastes; however, the approach described in this guide may be applicable to non-waste populations, as well.  
3.3 Sections 4 – 9 describe a guide for the sampling of heterogeneous waste according to project objectives. Appendix X1 describes an application of the guide to heterogeneous wastes. The user is strongly advised to read Annex A1 prior to reading and employing Sections 4 – 9 of this guide.  
3.4 Annex A1 contains an introductory discussion of heterogeneity, stratification, and the relationship of samples and populations.  
3.5 This guide is intended for those who manage, design, or implement sampling and analytical plans for the characterization of heterogeneous wastes.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is a practical, nonmathematical discussion for heterogeneous waste sampling strategies. This guide is consistent with the particulate material sampling theory, as well as inferential statistics, and may serve as an introduction to the statistical treatment of sampling issues.  
1.2 This guide does not provide comprehensive sampling procedures, nor does it serve as a guide to any specification. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure appropriate procedures are used.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2015
• ICS: 13.030.40 - Installations and equipment for waste disposal and treatment
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.01.01 - Planning for Sampling

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5956 − 15
Standard Guide for
1
Sampling Strategies for Heterogeneous Wastes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5956; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.1.4 composite sample, n—a combination of two or more
samples.
1.1 This guide is a practical, nonmathematical discussion
2.1.4.1 Discussion—When compositing samples to detect
for heterogeneous waste sampling strategies. This guide is
hot spots or whenever there may be a reason to determine
consistent with the particulate material sampling theory, as
which of the component samples that constitute the composite
well as inferential statistics, and may serve as an introduction
are the source of the detected contaminant, it can be helpful to
to the statistical treatment of sampling issues.
composite only portions of the component samples. The
1.2 This guide does not provide comprehensive sampling
remainders of the component samples then can be archived for
procedures, nor does it serve as a guide to any specification. It
future reference and analysis. This approach is particularly
is the responsibility of the user to ensure appropriate proce-
helpful when sampling is expensive, hazardous, or difficult.
dures are used.
2.1.5 correlation, n—the mutual relation of two or more
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
things.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2.1.6 database, n—a comprehensive collection of related
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
data organized for quick access.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
2.1.6.1 Discussion—Database as used in this guide refers to
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
a collection of data generated by the collection and analysis of
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
more than one physical sample.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
2.1.7 data quality objectives (DQO), n—DQOs are qualita-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
tive and quantitative statements derived from the DQO process
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
describing the decision rules and the uncertainties of the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
decision(s) within the context of the problem(s).
2.1.8 data quality objective process, n—a quality manage-
2. Terminology
ment tool based on the scientific method and developed by the
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate the plan-
2.1.1 attribute, n—a quality of samples or a population.
ning of environmental data collection activities.
2.1.1.1 Discussion—Homogeneity, heterogeneity, and prac-
2.1.8.1 Discussion—The DQO process enables planners to
ticalhomogeneityarepopulationattributes.Representativeness
focus their planning efforts by specifying the use of the data
and intersample variance are sample attributes.
(the decision), the decision criteria (action level) and the
2.1.2 characteristic, n—a property of items, a sample or
decision maker’s acceptable decision error rates. The products
population that can be measured, counted, or otherwise ob-
of the DQO process are the DQOs.
served.
2.1.9 heterogeneity, n—the condition of the population un-
2.1.2.1 Discussion—A characteristic of interest may be the
der which items of the population are not identical with respect
cadmium concentration or ignitability of a population.
to the characteristic of interest.
2.1.3 component, n—aneasilyidentifieditemsuchasalarge
2.1.10 homogeneity, n—the condition of the population
crystal, an agglomerate, rod, container, block, glove, piece of
under which all items of the population are identical with
wood, or concrete.
respect to the characteristic of interest.
2.1.10.1 Discussion—Homogeneity is a word that has more
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
thanonemeaning.Instatistics,apopulationmaybeconsidered
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on
Planning for Sampling.
homogeneous when it has one distribution (for example, if the
Current edition approved May 1, 2015. Published May 2015. Originally
concentration of lead varies between the different items that
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D5956 – 96 (2006),
constitute a population and the varying concentrations can be
which was withdrawn in January 2015 and reinstated in May 2015. DOI:
10.1520/D5956-15. described by a
...