EN 12920:2006+A1:2008
(Main)Characterization of waste - Methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of waste under specified conditions
Characterization of waste - Methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of waste under specified conditions
This European Standard specifies a methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of a waste or a waste from the extractive industry under specified conditions (i.e. for a specified scenario including a specified time frame) in order to provide a solution to a defined problem. This applies to disposal and recovery scenarios.
NOTE 1 Recovery is the term defined in the European Waste Acts [1,3]. It includes re-use and recycling.
The external conditions which have a direct influence on the release of constituents from waste are considered. Migration of constituents leached from the disposal or the recovery site into the surrounding environment is not considered. Also the assessment of toxicity to humans or ecological impacts on flora and fauna as a secondary effect after release of constituents from the waste is not considered.
NOTE 2 Present knowledge of highly complex scenarios and wastes may limit the ability to provide a clear solution to a defined problem. An example may be the land filling of complex mixtures of wastes or the prediction of the acid generation behaviour waste from the extractive industry.
Charakterisierung von Abfall - Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Auslaugungsverhaltens von Abfall unter festgelegten Bedingungen
Diese Europäische Norm legt eine Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Auslaugungsverhaltens von Abfall unter festgelegten Bedingungen (d. h. für ein festgelegtes Szenarium einschließlich eines festgelegten Zeitrahmens) fest, um eine Lösung für ein genau beschriebenes Problem zu geben. Dies gilt für Beseitigungs- und Verwertungsszenarien."
ANMERKUNG 1 Verwertung ist als Begriff in den Europäischen Abfallrichtlinien [1, 3] definiert. Verwertung beinhaltet Wiederverwendung und Recycling. !Der Begriff Abfall umfasst alle Arten von Abfall, z. B. kommunalen Abfall, Abfall der mineralgewinnenden Industrie."
Es werden die äußeren Bedingungen betrachtet, die die Freisetzung von Bestandteilen aus Abfall direkt beeinflussen. Die Migration von ausgelaugten Bestandteilen des Beseitigungs- oder Verwertungsstandortes in die Umgebung findet keine Berücksichtigung. Die Beurteilung der Toxizität für den Menschen oder die ökologischen Einflüsse auf Flora und Fauna als einem Nebeneffekt nach Freisetzung der Bestandteile aus dem Abfall werden ebenfalls nicht berücksichtigt.
ANMERKUNG 2 Das derzeitige Wissen von sehr komplexen Szenarien und Abfällen kann die Möglichkeit für eine eindeutige Lösung eines bestimmten Problems einschränken. Ein Beispiel kann die Deponierung eines komplexen Abfallgemisches sein !, oder die Prognose des Säurebildungsverhaltens von Abfall der mineralgewinnenden Industrie.
Caractérisation des déchets - Méthodologie pour la détermination du comportement à la lixiviation d'un déchet dans des conditions spécifiées
La présente norme spécifie une méthodologie permettant de déterminer le comportement à la lixiviation d'un déchet
dans des conditions spécifiées (c'est-à-dire pour un scénario spécifié sur une période donnée), afin de fournir une
solution à un problème déterminé. Elle s'applique aux scénarios d'élimination et de valorisation.
NOTE 1 Le terme valorisation est un terme défini dans les décrets européens sur les déchets [1, 3]. Il comprend le ré-emploi
et le recyclage. !Le terme «déchets» comprend toutes les catégories de déchets, tels que les déchets municipaux, les
déchets issus de l’industrie extractive, etc."
Les conditions externes qui ont une influence directe sur le relargage des constituants d'un déchet sont prises en
considération. La migration dans l'environnement immédiat des constituants lixiviés à partir du site d'élimination ou
de valorisation n'est pas prise en compte. N'est pas non plus prise en considération l'évaluation de la toxicité pour les
humains ou les impacts écologiques sur la flore et la faune en tant qu'effet secondaire du relargage des constituants
du déchet.
NOTE 2 Il se peut que l'état actuel des connaissances en matière de scénarios et de déchets particulièrement complexes
limite la possibilité de fournir une solution claire au problème posé. Un exemple peut être la mise en décharge de mélanges
complexes de déchets !ou les prévisions du comportement de production acide des déchets issus de l’industrie
extractive".
Karakterizacija odpadkov - Metodologija za določanje izlužljivosti odpadkov pri določenih pogojih (vključno z dopolnilom A1)
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 09-Sep-2008
- Withdrawal Date
- 30-Mar-2009
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 444 - Environmental characterization
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 444/WG 1 - Leaching tests
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 11-Jul-2024
- Completion Date
- 14-Apr-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
Overview
EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 (CEN) - "Characterization of waste - Methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of waste under specified conditions" - defines a stepwise methodology to determine how constituents are released (leaching behaviour) from wastes or extractive‑industry materials under a specified disposal or recovery scenario and time frame. The standard focuses on the waste‑specific release processes and modelling of leaching under defined external conditions. It does not cover migration into surrounding environments or secondary toxicity/ecological impact assessments.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Structured seven‑step methodology: definition of the problem and solution sought; scenario description; waste description; determination of parameter influence; modelling of leaching behaviour; behavioural model validation; conclusions and study report.
- Scenario‑driven approach: scenarios must describe mechanical/geotechnical, hydrogeological/climatic, biological, site‑use and exceptional conditions (e.g., flooding, fire).
- Waste characterisation: document origin, total chemistry, mineralogy, physical and geotechnical properties (density, porosity, particle size, permeability) relevant to leaching.
- Parameter identification and testing: select and justify parameter‑specific tests (intrinsic properties like diffusion coefficients, solubility) and simulation tests (combined effects; examples given: lysimeters, large‑scale columns). Accelerated tests are allowed but must be validated.
- Behavioural modelling and validation: build a model relating leaching to scenario conditions and waste properties; validate by consistency checks between parameter tests and simulation tests and, where possible, field verification or analogy with natural/ancient materials.
- Documentation: all assumptions, test selections and references to existing information must be recorded in a study report.
Practical applications
- Assessing long‑term release of contaminants from landfills, recycling/recovery operations and mining/aggregate wastes.
- Designing containment, leachate collection and treatment strategies for disposal and recovery sites.
- Comparing treatment or recovery options based on predicted release over specified time frames.
- Supporting permitting and regulatory compliance where scenario‑specific leaching behaviour is required.
Who uses this standard
- Environmental consultants and laboratory specialists conducting leaching tests and modelling.
- Waste and landfill designers, site operators and recovery facility planners.
- Mining and extractive industry professionals evaluating acid generation potential and ARD/AMD risk.
- Regulators and policy makers requiring documented, scenario‑based leaching assessments.
Related standards and references
- European Waste lists (Commission Decision 2000/532/EC) for waste categorisation.
- Waste management legislation such as Directive 91/156/EEC and national implementations of the European Waste Acts.
- CEN technical guidance and complementary test standards for leaching and materials characterisation (refer to national CEN bodies for up‑to‑date bibliographies).
Keywords: EN 12920 leaching behaviour, waste characterisation, leaching methodology, CEN standard, landfill leaching, extractive industry waste, behavioural model validation.
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Characterization of waste - Methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of waste under specified conditions". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies a methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of a waste or a waste from the extractive industry under specified conditions (i.e. for a specified scenario including a specified time frame) in order to provide a solution to a defined problem. This applies to disposal and recovery scenarios. NOTE 1 Recovery is the term defined in the European Waste Acts [1,3]. It includes re-use and recycling. The external conditions which have a direct influence on the release of constituents from waste are considered. Migration of constituents leached from the disposal or the recovery site into the surrounding environment is not considered. Also the assessment of toxicity to humans or ecological impacts on flora and fauna as a secondary effect after release of constituents from the waste is not considered. NOTE 2 Present knowledge of highly complex scenarios and wastes may limit the ability to provide a clear solution to a defined problem. An example may be the land filling of complex mixtures of wastes or the prediction of the acid generation behaviour waste from the extractive industry.
This European Standard specifies a methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of a waste or a waste from the extractive industry under specified conditions (i.e. for a specified scenario including a specified time frame) in order to provide a solution to a defined problem. This applies to disposal and recovery scenarios. NOTE 1 Recovery is the term defined in the European Waste Acts [1,3]. It includes re-use and recycling. The external conditions which have a direct influence on the release of constituents from waste are considered. Migration of constituents leached from the disposal or the recovery site into the surrounding environment is not considered. Also the assessment of toxicity to humans or ecological impacts on flora and fauna as a secondary effect after release of constituents from the waste is not considered. NOTE 2 Present knowledge of highly complex scenarios and wastes may limit the ability to provide a clear solution to a defined problem. An example may be the land filling of complex mixtures of wastes or the prediction of the acid generation behaviour waste from the extractive industry.
EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 13.030.01 - Wastes in general. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 12920:2006, EN 12920:2006/prA1. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
You can purchase EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of CEN standards.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Charakterisierung von Abfall - Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Auslaugungsverhaltens von Abfall unter festgelegten BedingungenCaractérisation des déchets - Méthodologie pour la détermination du comportement à la lixiviation d'un déchet dans des conditions spécifiéesCharacterization of waste - Methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of waste under specified conditions13.030.01Odpadki na splošnoWastes in generalICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12920:2006+A1:2008SIST EN 12920:2006+A1:2009en,fr,de01-marec-2009SIST EN 12920:2006+A1:2009SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12920:2006+A1
September 2008 ICS 13.030.01 Supersedes EN 12920:2006English Version
Characterization of waste -Methodology for the determination of the leaching behaviour of waste under specified conditions
Caractérisation des déchets - Méthodologie pour la détermination du comportement à la lixiviation d'un déchet dans des conditions spécifiées
Charakterisierung von Abfall - Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Auslaugungsverhaltens von Abfall unter festgelegten Bedingungen This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 February 2006 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 30 July 2008.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels © 2008 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12920:2006+A1:2008: ESIST EN 12920:2006+A1:2009
Principle of the methodology.11 Bibliography.12
NOTE To avoid unnecessary duplication of work, reference can be made to existing documented information on specific waste characteristics and on previous evaluations of scenarios.
In order to comply with this standard, reference to existing information shall be docu
...
The standard EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 offers a comprehensive methodology for assessing the leaching behaviour of waste materials, particularly those sourced from the extractive industry. This European Standard is crucial for developing an understanding of the interactions between waste and its disposal or recovery environments under specified conditions, thus addressing significant environmental concerns. One of the strengths of this standard is its clear definition of scope, which focuses on the leaching behaviour under specific scenarios, including a specified time frame. This focused approach allows for a more accurate assessment of the potential risks associated with waste disposal or recovery methods, making the findings more applicable and useful for real-world situations. By delineating the external conditions influencing the release of constituents from waste, the standard effectively provides guidelines for stakeholders involved in waste management and environmental protection. Another notable aspect of the EN 12920 standard is its ability to facilitate the recovery of waste, including aspects of reuse and recycling as defined by the European Waste Acts. This reinforces the standard's relevance in the broader context of sustainable waste management practices, promoting environmentally responsible handling of waste and aligning with current legislative frameworks. However, the standard acknowledges certain limitations, particularly concerning the complexity of waste mixtures and the unpredictable nature of leachate behaviour under varied conditions. While it provides valuable insight, users must be aware that the methodologies may not yield definitive solutions for highly complex waste scenarios, such as landfilling of diverse waste types or predicting acid generation in extractive industry waste. In summary, the EN 12920 standard stands out for its structured approach to characterizing waste leaching behaviour under defined conditions. Its strengths lie in its focused methodology, relevance to waste recovery processes, and adherence to European Waste Acts, all of which contribute to advancing efficient waste management and environmental safety practices in the EU.
EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 표준은 특정 조건 하에서 폐기물의 침출 행동을 결정하기 위한 방법론을 규정하고 있습니다. 이 표준의 적용 범위는 처리 및 회수 시나리오 모두를 포함하며, 특정한 문제에 대한 해결책을 제공하는 데 중점을 두고 있습니다. 이 표준은 채굴 산업에서 발생하는 폐기물의 특성화에도 적용될 수 있어, 다양한 유형의 폐기물 처리와 관련하여 매우 중요합니다. 이 표준의 강점은 외부 조건이 폐기물에서 성분이 방출되는 데 미치는 직접적인 영향을 고려한다는 점입니다. 이로 인해 특정한 시나리오와 시간 프레임을 설정하여 보다 정확한 침출 행동 분석이 가능해집니다. 또한, 표준은 회수의 개념을 명확히 정의하고 있으며, 재사용 및 재활용을 포함한 광범위한 회수 시나리오에 적용할 수 있습니다. EN 12920 표준은 기존의 폐기물 처리 방식과 비교하여, 보다 과학적이고 체계적인 접근 방식을 제공합니다. 특히 복잡한 폐기물 혼합물의 매립이나 채굴 산업에서 발생하는 폐기물의 산 생성 행동 예측과 같은 문제의 해결이 어려울 수 있다는 점을 인지하고 있습니다. 이러한 사실은 표준이 현대의 복잡한 폐기물 관리 문제를 다루기 위해 잘 설계되었다는 것을 보여줍니다. 결론적으로, EN 12920:2006+A1:2008은 폐기물의 침출 행동에 대한 체계적인 평가 방법을 제공함으로써, 환경 보호 및 자원 회수의 측면에서 매우 중요한 역할을 수행하고 있습니다. 이를 통해 산업계와 정책 입안자들이 보다 효과적인 폐기물 관리 전략을 수립할 수 있도록 지원합니다.
EN 12920:2006+A1:2008は、廃棄物の特定条件下における浸出挙動を評価するための方法論を具体的に定義した欧州標準であり、その範囲は廃棄物や抽出産業からの廃棄物に対する浸出挙動の決定に特化しています。この標準の強みは、廃棄物処理や回収シナリオにおいて定義された問題に対する解決策を提供するための明確な手法を確立している点です。 この標準は、外部条件が廃棄物からの成分の放出に与える影響を考慮しており、浸出試験の実施にあたり、具体的なシナリオや時間枠を設定することで、より正確な結果を導き出すことが可能です。特に、廃棄物を処分・回収する過程において、リスクを適切に評価するための枠組みを提供している点が重要です。 加えて、EN 12920は廃棄物の再利用やリサイクルといった回収の概念にも触れ、それらが環境へ与える影響を考慮するための基盤を形成しています。このように、浸出試験は単なる廃棄物の評価に留まらず、持続可能な廃棄物管理の一環としての役割を果たしています。 ただし、現存する複雑なシナリオや廃棄物に関する知識は、特定の問題に対する明確な解決を提供する能力を制限する可能性があることも注意が必要です。特に、複雑な廃棄物の埋立や抽出産業からの廃棄物の酸生成挙動の予測など、より高次の挑戦が残っています。 全体として、EN 12920:2006+A1:2008は廃棄物の浸出挙動評価に関する信頼性の高い枠組みを提供し、廃棄物管理の分野における重要性を強調するものであり、今後の廃棄物処理プロセスにおける適用が期待されます。
Die Norm EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 bietet eine fundierte Methodologie zur Charakterisierung von Abfällen, insbesondere hinsichtlich ihres Auslaugungsverhaltens unter festgelegten Bedingungen. Diese europäische Norm ist entscheidend für die Beurteilung der Entsorgungs- und Rückgewinnungsszenarien von Abfällen aus der extraktiven Industrie, was in der heutigen umweltbewussten Gesellschaft von großer Bedeutung ist. Ein wesentlicher Vorteil dieser Norm liegt in ihrem klar definierten Anwendungsbereich. Sie ermöglicht es, situationsabhängige Rahmenbedingungen festzulegen, die für die Bestimmung des Auslaugungsverhaltens entscheidend sind. Durch die Standardisierung dieser Methodik wird eine einheitliche Grundlage geschaffen, die eine vergleichbare Bewertung von Abfallstoffen unterstützt. Eine weitere Stärke der EN 12920 besteht darin, dass sie externe Bedingungen berücksichtigt, die den Freisetzungsprozess von Bestandteilen aus Abfällen direkt beeinflussen. Dies bietet den Anwendern eine wertvolle Orientierung, um die Risiken für die Umwelt besser einschätzen zu können – auch wenn die Migration der Bestandteile in die Umgebung nicht Teil dieser Norm ist. Zudem wird in der Norm darauf hingewiesen, dass sie aktuelle Kenntnisse und komplexe Szenarien bei der Beurteilung des Auslaugungsverhaltens von Abfällen in Betracht ziehen muss. Diese Berücksichtigung zeigt, dass die Norm ein flexibles und adaptives Instrument ist, das sich an die technischen Entwicklungen und wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse anpasst. Die Relevanz der EN 12920 für die Entsorgungsbranche ist unbestritten, da sie sowohl für die Wiederverwendung als auch für das Recycling von Abfällen Richtlinien bietet, die im Einklang mit den europäischen Abfallgesetzen stehen. Die standardisierte Methodologie trägt zur Förderung nachhaltiger Praktiken bei und ist somit ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug für Fachleute, die im Bereich der Abfallwirtschaft tätig sind.
La norme EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 se concentre sur la caractérisation des déchets en établissant une méthodologie pour déterminer le comportement de lixiviation des déchets dans des conditions spécifiées. Ce document normatif est essentiel pour les scénarios de mise en décharge et de valorisation des déchets, garantissant que les professionnels de l'environnement disposent d'outils standardisés pour évaluer les risques associés à différentes méthodes de gestion des déchets. L'un des points forts de cette norme est sa capacité à fournir une procédure structurée pour l'évaluation du lixiviation des déchets. En définissant un cadre clair qui prend en compte un scénario spécifié sur une période définie, la norme permet d'apporter des solutions à des problèmes spécifiques liés à la gestion des déchets. Cela est particulièrement pertinent dans le contexte actuel où la durabilité et la protection de l'environnement sont des préoccupations majeures. De plus, la norme EN 12920 reconnaît les conditions externes qui influencent directement la libération des constituants des déchets. Cette prise en compte des facteurs environnementaux constitue un ajout précieux, car elle aide à mieux comprendre les scénarios réels de gestion des déchets. Cependant, il est également important de noter que la norme n'aborde pas certains aspects critiques tels que la migration des constituants dans l'environnement ou l'évaluation de la toxicité pour les êtres humains et les impacts écologiques sur la flore et la faune. Cela peut limiter son application dans des situations plus complexes où les effets secondaires peuvent avoir des conséquences significatives. Dans l'ensemble, la norme EN 12920:2006+A1:2008 demeure un outil précieux pour les acteurs de la gestion des déchets. Sa pertinence dans le cadre législatif européen et sa capacité à fournir une méthodologie robuste pour évaluer le comportement de lixiviation des déchets confèrent à cette norme un rôle central dans le développement de pratiques plus sûres et plus durables en matière de gestion des déchets.










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