The aim of this research was the development of rapid analytical test methods for arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium(VI), copper, nickel, and zinc to classify waste materials into waste classes and assess contaminated soils for purification purposes. In order to estimate the danger potentials of contaminated soils, a rapid ecotoxicological method was developed (A. Götzl, H. Malissa, W. Riepe, FACT 3 (6) (1999) 329.). These rapid analytical and ecotoxicological tests offer an instrument to comprehensively assess soils and wastes. The developed rapid methods are suitable for the elution of different soils and wastes, the analysis of the eluates and also for waste waters with concentrations greater than 0.1 mg l(-1) arsenic, 0.5 mg l(-1) lead, 0.01 mg l(-1) cadmium, 0.1 mg l(-1) chromium(VI), 0.3 mg l(-1) copper, 0.5 mg l(-1) nickel and 0.1 mg l(-1) zinc in the eluate. Our developed rapid analytical test methods described below can be implemented on site, are of low cost and are not time-consuming (about 30 min). They also do not need to be carried out by highly qualified specialists only, they can also be easily applied by persons with some experience. The comparability of results obtained using the developed rapid test method and standardised methods was tested with various matrices.