In this latest member interview, we speak with Ian Wharton, Head of Sales at Express Mobile Soil Testing, a specialist provider of nationwide on-site mobile soil testing laboratories. Their work delivers fast, accurate, and reliable chemical analysis testing for highways, utilities, and street works projects across the UK.
Ian discusses the company’s recent investment in a new mobile testing vehicle, the impact of the new Street Works UK protocol introduced on 1st October, and how rapid on-site testing is helping local authorities and contractors stay compliant and efficient.
Adapting to Change: The New Street Works UK Protocol
Recent changes to the Street Works UK protocol have created new challenges for organisations managing excavation and waste in the highways and utilities sectors.
Many UK roads built before 1980 used a coal tar–derived road binder, a by-product of the coal gasification process. When the country transitioned to North Sea natural gas, bitumen, a crude oil residue, became the new standard. However, the Environment Agency later recognised that coal tar binders could still be present in old road surfaces, making them potentially hazardous waste materials under UK waste management rules.
Ian explains: “The problem is that chemical analysis isn’t straightforward. Interpreting waste management rules and duty of care legislation means there are many potential liabilities when managing excavated road binder material. Incorrect classification can carry serious legal and financial penalties.”
The new protocol introduced in October places additional responsibility on organisations to properly assess and classify road waste before disposal.
Investing in Innovation: A New Vehicle for Street Works and Highways
To meet the increased demand for rapid, on-site testing, Express Mobile Soil Testing has invested in a new, smaller mobile testing vehicle.
“Our larger unit is currently tied up on a large site,” Ian explains. “We’ve been there since January and will be until late next year. We needed a smaller vehicle to target the utilities and highways sector and this new vehicle allows us to work more flexibly across local road networks without taking up much space on site.”
The new vehicle is designed to access tighter urban environments, operate behind traffic management systems, and deliver near-instant results to clients on site.
Instant Results: Reducing Delays and Waste Rejection
Traditional laboratory testing can take five to seven days – a timeline that often leads to project delays and complications at waste facilities.
“We provide almost instant results to the customer,” Ian says. “If they’re working in the road, we can give them the results while we’re still on site. That means they can show the waste receiver verified data immediately and avoid having material rejected.”
This on-site capability is especially valuable under the new Street Works protocol, where many waste receivers are refusing loads classified through simple desktop risk assessments or tick-box exercises.
“Our testing proves straight away whether material is contaminated or not,” Ian adds. “That removes uncertainty and saves time, money, and disruption.”
Unique Technology and Expertise
The company’s testing system is built around the QED Hydrocarbon Analyser, an instrument that won the Qualifying Innovator – Highways Defects Innovation Award at the LCRIG Innovation and Learning Festival 2022.
“There’s nothing else in the world that can do what this equipment does,” says Ian. “It doesn’t just identify coal tar contamination, it also detects phenols and benzopyrene, and provides a Bitumen Degradation Factor (BDF). That tells the customer how oxidised the material is, which helps them decide whether it’s suitable for recycling.”
All of this information is generated and delivered directly to the customer on site before the team leaves.
Looking Ahead
Currently operating two mobile laboratories across the UK, Express Mobile Soil Testing plans to expand as demand grows.
“Once the business gets larger, we’ll scale up to three, four, or even five vehicles depending on demand,” Ian says. “We’re UK-wide already, and the goal is to keep improving access to reliable on-site testing for all our customers.”
As for his advice to councils navigating the new Street Works UK protocol?
“Our service is designed to sit alongside the new portal. It’s there to give local authorities and contractors confidence that the waste they’re managing has been properly tested so they can dispose of it safely, legally, and efficiently.”
To find out more about Express Mobile Soil Testing, visit their website.