ASTM D5956-21

Standard Guide for Sampling Strategies for Heterogeneous Wastes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is suitable for sampling heterogeneous wastes.  
4.2 The focus of this guidance is on wastes; however, the approach described in this guide may be applicable to non-waste populations as well.  
4.3 Sections 5 – 10 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 5 – 10 of this guide.  
4.4 Annex A1 contains an introductory discussion of heterogeneity, stratification, and the relationship of samples and populations.  
4.5 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 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.  
1.4 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2021
• 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)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5956 − 21
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 3. Terminology
1.1 This guide is a practical, nonmathematical discussion 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
for heterogeneous waste sampling strategies. This guide is standard, see Terminology D5681.
consistentwiththeparticulatematerialsamplingtheoryaswell
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
as inferential statistics, and may serve as an introduction to the
3.2.1 component, n—aneasilyidentifieditemsuchasalarge
statistical treatment of sampling issues.
crystal, an agglomerate, rod, container, block, glove, piece of
1.2 This guide does not provide comprehensive sampling wood, or concrete.
procedures, nor does it serve as a guide to any specification. It
3.2.2 composite sample, n—a combination of two or more
is the responsibility of the user to ensure appropriate proce-
samples.
dures are used.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—When compositing samples to detect
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded hot spots or whenever there may be a reason to determine
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this which of the component samples that constitute the composite
standard. All observed and calculated values shall conform to are the source of the detected contaminant, it can be helpful to
the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in composite only portions of the component samples. The
Practice D6026. Reporting of test results in units other than SI remainders of the component samples then can be archived for
shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard. future reference and analysis. This approach is particularly
helpful when sampling is expensive, hazardous, or difficult.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.3 correlation, n—the mutual relation of two or more
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- things.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.2.4 item, n—a distinct part of a population (for example,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
microscopic particles, macroscopic particles, and 20-ft long
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
steel beams).
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.4.1 Discussion—Theterm componentdefinesasubsetof
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
items. Components are those items that are easily identified as
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
being different from the remainder of items that constitute the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
population.The identification of components may facilitate the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
stratification and sampling of a highly stratified population
when the presence of the characteristic of interest is correlated
2. Referenced Documents
with a specific component.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.5 practical homogeneity, n—the condition of the popu-
D5681 Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
lation under which all items of the population are not identical.
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Re-
For the characteristic of interest, however, the differences
cords in Geotechnical Data
between individual physical samples are not measurable or
significant relative to project objectives.
3.2.5.1 Discussion—For practical purposes, the population
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
is homogeneous.
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on
Planning for Sampling.
3.2.6 random, n—lack of order or patterns in a population
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2021. Published October 2021. Originally
whose items have an equal probability of occurring.
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D5956 – 15. DOI:
10.1520/D5956-21.
3.2.6.1 Discussion—The word random is used in two dif-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ferent contexts in this guide. In relation to sampling, random
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
means that all items of a population have an equal probability
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5956 − 15 D5956 − 21
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
1.1 This guide is a practical, nonmathematical discussion for heterogeneous waste sampling strategies. This guide is consistent
with the particulate material sampling theory,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 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
Practice D6026. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.4 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D5681 Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Records in Geotechnical Data
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this standard, see Terminology D5681.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 attribute, n—a quality of samples or a population.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on Planning for
Sampling.
Current edition approved May 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2021. Published May 2015October 2021. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20062015 as
D5956 – 96 (2006)D5956 – 15., which was withdrawn in January 2015 and reinstated in May 2015. DOI: 10.1520/D5956-15. DOI: 10.1520/D5956-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D5956 − 21
2.1.1.1 Discussion—
Homogeneity, heterogeneity, and practical homogeneity are population attributes. Representativeness and intersample variance are
sample attributes.
2.1.2 characteristic, n—a property of items, a sample or population that can be measured, counted, or otherwise observed.
2.1.2.1 Discussion—
A characteristic of interest may be the cadmium concentration or ignitability of a population.
3.2.1 component, n—an easily identified item such as a large crystal, an agglomerate, rod, container, block, glove, piece of wood,
or concrete.
3.2.2 composite sample, n—a combination of two or more samples.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
When compositing samples to detect hot spots or whenever there may be a reason to determine which of the component samples
that constitute the composite are the source of the detected contaminant, it can be helpful to composite only portions of the
component samples. The remainders of the component samples then can be archived for future reference and analysis. This
approach is particularly helpful when sampling is expensive, hazardous, or difficult.
3.2.3 correlation, n—the mutual relation of two or more things.
2.1.6 database, n—a comprehensive collection of related data organized for quick access.
2.1.6.1 Discussion—
Database as used in this guide refers to
...