Dear Alison,

Thank you for contacting the UNH Extension Infoline regarding your potential soil contamination.

Following up on your call from 4/8/2026, I’ve attached some general information to help get you started.

We are committed to finding the right solution for your lawn and garden and are happy to provide further guidance as needed.

Please feel free to reach out with any further questions.

Best regards

Haim
Master Gardener Volunteer
UNH Extension Infoline Team

General information

Testing for contaminants and/or hazardous waste in soil is not a service that our UNH Extension lab provides. Services that are provided through UNH Extension's soil lab include: general soil analysis (the amount of extractable calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus in your soil) and fertilizer recommendations. You can read more FAQ here: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/best-practices-submitting-your-soil-sample

Your specific question/concern is a common question that the UNHCE soil lab receives each year. In order to test for possible contaminants, that would be a service provided by a private lab. I have heard of a lab based in Concord called Eastern Analytical, but there are others as well. If you google search, you should be able to find what you need! We are not able to endorse or promote one company over another.

Safety Concerns with Tire Dumps

• Tire stockpiles can pose several risks to a neighboring vegetable garden:
• Chemical Leaching: As tires weather, they can release heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the surrounding soil and groundwater.
• Pests: Tires are notorious for collecting stagnant water, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can carry West Nile Virus or Encephalitis.
• Fire Hazard: Tire piles are difficult to extinguish if ignited and produce toxic pyrolitic oil that heavily pollutes the ground.
• Recommended Garden Strategies

If your tests show elevated levels of contaminants, consider these safer alternatives:

• Raised Beds: Use a weed block or liner at the bottom of raised beds and fill them with clean, imported topsoil to prevent roots from reaching native soil.
• Container Gardening: Grow vegetables in food-grade buckets or fabric pots to completely isolate them from your yard's soil.
• Buffer Zones: Maintain a significant distance between the tire pile and your garden to minimize the reach of rainfall-driven leaching.

For concerns regarding the legality or safety of the tire pile itself, you can contact the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES)Solid Waste Helpline at <personal data hidden> call<personal data hidden>

The primary EPA laboratory for testing soil contamination, including contaminants from tire debris (such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and PCBs), in New Hampshire and Massachusetts is the EPA Region 1 New England Regional Laboratory (NERL).

EPA New England Regional Laboratory (NERL)

Location: 11 Technology Drive, North Chelmsford, MA 01863-2431

Function: Provides monitoring, sampling, and analysis for EPA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT).

Capabilities: The lab uses diverse scientific staff to analyze chemical, biological, and environmental samples, including soil, for contaminants of concern. [1, 2, 3]

https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-region-1s-new-england-regional-laboratory#:~:text=Mailing%20Address,protocols%20are%20ISO%2017025%20accredited.

Additional Testing Resources in NH/MA
For soil analysis, including those related to tire hazardous waste or landfill runoff (e.g., Auburn Road Landfill in NH), state environmental departments often work with private, EPA-certified labs.

• Eastern Analytical, Inc. (Concord, NH): A private lab experienced with EPA methods and New England state regulations.
• Pace Analytical Services (Woburn, MA): A private lab that provides soil testing services.
• New England Testing Laboratory (West Warwick, RI/Regional): Certified for environmental testing in New England.
• NHDES Testing Labs: The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services maintains a list of accredited labs for hazardous waste testing.

helpful information :

https://www.mass.gov/doc/fact-sheet-soil-sampling/download

https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-region-1s-new-england-regional-laboratory