WRc seeks 17025 UKAS Accreditation for their Waste Labs

Expansion of the waste and resource business area in 2007/08 means that WRc now has a much larger dedicated waste testing laboratory within our Phase 3 facility. The Landfill Regulations sets out increasingly stringent targets for diverting biodegradable wastes from landfill. Biodegradability tests are required to quantify the diversion achieved by any given process and WRc are well placed to provide this service in our in-house laboratories. We are currently assisting the Environment Agency in revising the Guidance on monitoring of MBT and other treatment process for the landfill allowance schemes which lays out the testing and reporting requirements for waste disposal authorities.  To support our clients, who have ever increasing quality requirements, WRc made a decision to accredit our in-house organic waste testing activities through UKAS under ISO 17025. When successful this will set us apart from other test houses.  Starting with our basic documented procedures, we have put in place an umbrella system and a quality manual over the last 9 months to meet the requirements of the standard.

The application form was completed and submitted in May 2009 and we were assigned to a UKAS manager in June 2009.  We have been lucky along the way and have been able to utilise the skills of WRc employees who have been working with UKAS accreditation systems for years.
 
Two UKAS assessors have now been appointed and we await a date for our initial-assessment.  This is an informal assessment and will involve them coming to site to check over our system and be able to give advice on where we are and what else may be needed before we arrange the pre-assessment to gain accreditation. UKAS have informed us that it will take 3-6 months after the initial assessment for the pre-assessment to occur and we hope to get the accreditation by the end of 2009.