Over time the public and political attitudes towards the handling of solid waste have resulted in a clear preference for utilisation as opposed to disposal and a tightening of the requirements for the environmental characteristics of the waste products to be utilised or disposed off. At the same time the criteria connected with the establishment of facilities for the treatment and disposal of solid waste has become more stringent. DHI can be of assistance in a variety of services connected to the handling of waste products.

DHI has participated internationally in the development, testing, and standardisation of test methods for the determination of solute leaching from waste products and soil for a number of years  and can therefore perform such tests on a routine basis. DHI carries out both standardised tests and special leaching tests designed for specific purposes. DHI has many years' experience investigating solute leaching from a number of different waste and residue product types, including all types of residues from coal-firing power plants and waste incineration facilities, numerous types of industrial residues, mine and construction waste, different sludge types, compost, etc.

DHI has worked with the development and evaluation of methods for the treatment/stabilisation of waste products and residues to increase utilisation and improve disposal quality. DHI has also worked with the treatment (chemical and mechanical stabilisation) of different waste products and residues to reduce solute leaching enabling the treated materials to be utilised or disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. The effectiveness of different treatments is checked for example by testing the solute leaching before and after treatment.

DHI has assisted environmental agencies in several European countries and the EU Commission with the technical background for the criteria-setting related to landfilling of waste and the methodology used to evaluate the waste characteristics.

In a number of cases DHI has assisted private and official clients with the development of methodology to assess the disposal of waste products, contaminated soils and sediments as well as with the design parameters for actual disposal sites. As part of this process, DHI has developed models for the evaluation of the source strength related to the disposal sites and the subsequent impact on surrounding waters.