A complex verification system was developed for soil-remediation technologies, which can be applied both to bioremediation and in situ soil treatment. The multi-stage verification methodology includes: (1) the technological efficiency, which is characterized by the material balance, i.e. the mass-flow balance of the soil phases and the pollutant that is modified or eliminated; (2) the environmental efficiency of the technology, which is characterized by the quantitative environmental risk before, during and after the remediation, at the local, regional and global levels; (3) the cost efficiency or, if necessary and possible, the cost–benefit assessment; and (4) the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis.

The verification system developed and applied for the characterization and evaluation of innovative in situ soil-remediation technologies is here introduced for the assessment of cyclodextrin technology (CDT), which is an innovative in situ bioremediation method developed and used for soil contaminated with hydrocarbons of low bioavailability. It is also used to assess the combined chemical- and phytostabilization of toxic-metal-contaminated soil.