European Waste Catalogue coding

You must describe any waste your site produces before you send it for recycling and
disposal.
Classifying your waste will help you:

decide how to handle it

complete the paperwork you must give waste contractors so they can manage your
waste - this is part of your duty of care

You will need to meet additional requirements if you want to dispose of hazardous waste.
Your description must include:

the waste classification code, also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) or EWC
(European Waste Catalogue) code - you can find some common classification codes
below.
whether its hazardous
the type of premises or business where the waste was produced
the name of the substance or substances
the process that produced the waste a chemical and physical analysis
any special problems, requirements or knowledge related to the waste

You must consider all the waste the site will produce. If you cant find a code for your waste,
check the technical guidance on waste - it also includes information about waste
classification, hazardous waste and waste sampling.
You must not use landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results for waste classification
purposes.
How to find out if your waste is hazardous
In most cases you can check the waste code or codes associated with your type of waste itll have an asterisk if its hazardous.
Some wastes may have both hazardous and non-hazardous entries, eg where one refers to
the material containing dangerous substances.
In these cases, you must determine the wastes composition and assess if it has hazardous
properties or components before you can classify it - check the manufacturers product
safety data sheets for this information.
Many products include orange and black danger symbols or red and white hazard
pictograms to indicate theyre hazardous - check the technical guidance on waste for more
information.
Mixing waste
Its illegal to mix a hazardous waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste.
Check how to mix and store hazardous waste. You will usually need more than one code if
you store more than one type of non-hazardous waste in your container.

If you need more help, you can seek advice from a specialist waste contractor before putting
it into a skip or container if youre not sure whether its hazardous or not.
For more information, contact the Environment Agency.
Enquiries:

enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone:

03708 506 506

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste. It
is not Comprehensive seek advice if you have any doubt
(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the substance is hazardous.
2. Construction and demolition waste
Waste type

Waste status

Waste code

Insulation and asbestos materials

Insulation containing asbestos

Hazardous

17-06-01*

Other insulation containing dangerous

substances

Hazardous

17-06-03*

Other insulation materials

Non-hazardous

17-06-04

Other construction materials containing

asbestos

Hazardous

17-06-05*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and
asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.
Concrete

Non-hazardous

17-01-01

Bricks

Non-hazardous

17-01-02

Tiles and ceramics

Non-hazardous

17-01-03

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone

or in mixtures) containing dangerous
substances

Hazardous

17-01-06*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in

mixtures, containing no dangerous
substances

Non-hazardous

17-01-07

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the

packaging section for related codes.

Wood untreated

Non-hazardous

17-02-01

Glass uncontaminated

Non-hazardous

17-02-02

Plastic - excludes packaging waste

Non-hazardous

17-02-03

Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in

mixtures) containing dangerous substances

Hazardous

17-02-04*

Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar

Hazardous

17-03-01*

Other bituminous mixtures

Non-hazardous

17-03-02

Coal tar and tarred products

Hazardous

17-03-03*

Copper, bronze and brass

Non-hazardous

17-04-01

Aluminium

Non-hazardous

17-04-02

Lead

Non-hazardous

17-04-03

Iron and steel

Non-hazardous

17-04-05

Tin

Non-hazardous

17-04-06

Mixed metals

Non-hazardous

17-04-07

Metals containing dangerous substances

Hazardous

17-04-09*

Cables containing oil, coal tar and other

dangerous substances
Other cables

Hazardous

17-04-10*

Non-hazardous

17-04-11

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

Metallic waste, including cable

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

You must be able to prove that your waste doesnt contain any dangerous
substances to classify soil as non-hazardous - youll always need to assess the
soil before you hand it over to be collected. The presence of any fragments of
asbestos-containing material in the soil results in a mixed hazardous waste refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for more guidance.
Soil and stones containing dangerous
substances

Hazardous

17-05-03*

Other soil and stones

Non-hazardous

17-05-04

Dredging spoil containing dangerous

substances

Hazardous

17-05-05*

Other dredging spoil

Non-hazardous

17-05-06

Gypsum materials containing hazardous

materials

Hazardous

17-08-01*

Other gypsum materials

Non-hazardous

17-08-02

Hazardous

17-09-03*

Gypsum

Cement
Un-used or un-set cement

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified
under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.
Containing organic solvents or other
dangerous substances

Hazardous

08-01-11*
(20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other

dangerous substances
Paint or varnish remover
Paint cans

Non-hazardous

08-01-12
(20-01-28)
08-01-21*
Refer to
packaging
waste and
recyclables
section

Hazardous
Hazardous

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be
classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other
waste.
Containing organic solvents or other
dangerous substances

Hazardous

08-04-09*
(20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other

dangerous substances
Adhesive or sealant containers

Non-hazardous

08-04-10
(20-01-28)
Refer to
packaging
waste and
recyclables
section

Hazardous

3. Packaging waste and recyclables

The tables below list waste codes for common packaging and domestic type
recyclable wastes.
Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.
Waste
Type

Waste
Status

Plastic

Metal

Glass

Textiles

15-01-04

Paper or
Cardboar
d
15-01-01

Clean
packaging

Nonhazardou
s
Nonhazardou
s

15-01-02

15-01-07

15-01-09

20-01-39

20-01-40

20-01-01

20-01-02

20-01-11

Mixed
clean
material
including
Packaging

Nonhazardou
s

15-01-02
and
20-01-39

15-01-04
and
20-01-40

15-01-01
and
20-01-01

15-01-07
and
20-01-02

15-01-09
and
20-01-10

Empty
packaging
contamina
ted with
residues of
dangerous
substances
eg paint
cans,
intermedia
te bulk
containers
(IBCs) and
drums

Hazardou
s

15-0110*

15-0110*

15-0110*

15-0110*

15-0110*

Empty
packaging
contamina
ted with
residues of
nondangerous

Nonhazardou
s

15-01-02

15-01-04

15-01-01

15-01-07

15-01-09

Other
clean
material,
unmixed
excluding
packaging

substances

4. Electronic and electrical equipment

The tables below list waste codes for batteries, lightbulbs and electrical devices.
You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these
codes in the technical guidance on waste.
Youll need to include all relevant classification codes if you place electrical
devices that would be assigned different codes in the same container.
Batteries
Waste Type

Waste Status

Lead acid (vehicle)

Hazardous
Lead acid (other)
Hazardous
Nickel-Cadmium
Hazardous
Mercury containing
Hazardous
Alkaline
Non-hazardous
Other - Lithium or
Non-hazardous
Lithium ion
Mixed batteries Hazardous
unsorted
Lightbulbs and lamps

Household Type
16-06-01*
20-01-33*
20-01-33*
20-01-33*
20-01-34
20-01-34

Indus trial or
commercial
16-06-01*
16-06-01*
16-06-02*
16-06-03*
16-06-04
16-06-05

20-01-33*

Not allowed

Fluorescent tubes and Hazardous

20-01-21*
16-02-13*
low energy - excluding
LED
LED, halogen and
Non-hazardous
20-01-36
16-02-14
incandescent
Televisions, laptop computers, tablets and mobile phones with screens
Hazardous components may include any of the following:
activated glass phosphors; CRT; fluorescent backlight; printed circuit boards
containing nickel;capacitors; Ni-Cd batteries for portable devices
Cathode ray tube
Hazardous
20-01-35*
16-02-13*
(CRT) flatscreen
(plasma or LCD),
Laptop computers,
Hazardous
20-01-35*
Not applicable
tablets and mobile
phones with screens
Fridges, freezers, chillers and air-conditioning units
Hazardous components may include any of the following:
foam - flammable hydrocarbons or ozone depleting substances motors and
pumps containing oil
cooling agents
printed circuit boards containing nickel

Containing ozoneHazardous
20-01-23*
16-02-11*
depleting substances
as foam blowing
agents or coolants
Other
Hazardous
20-01-35*
16-02-13*
Other white goods
Hazardous components may include any of the following:
motors and pumps containing oil printed circuit boards containing nickel
capacitors
White goods - eg
Hazardous
20-01-35*
16-02-13*
washing machines,
dishwashers and
tumble driers -with
hazardous
components
White goods without
Non-hazardous
20-01-36
16-02-14
hazardous
components
Other devices
Hazardous components may include any of the following:
printed circuit boards motors
pumps
some batteries lamps and bulbs display screens capacitors
ink or toner cartridges asbestos
mercury switches
Examples of electrical devices which may have hazardous components include:
cameras - excluding single use
power tools
lawn mowers chain saws hedge trimmers photocopiers projectors
computer towers microwaves
printers
With hazardous
components
Without any
hazardous
components

Hazardous

20-01-35*

16-02-13*

5. Vehicle and oily wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common wastes produced by vehicle
maintenance and dismantling activities.
You must not mix any of the following fluids:
mineral oils
cooking oils
halogenated oils
brake fluids

anti-freeze washer fluids

oily waters

Vehicle and other oils

Waste
type

Waste
status

Contai
ns
PCBs

Hydraulic
oils
Engine,
gear and
lubricatin
g oils
Insulating
and
transmissi
on oils

Hazardo
us
Hazardo
us

13-0101*
n/a

Hazardo
us

13-0301*

Mineralbased
and
chlorinat
ed
13-0109*
13-0204*

Mineralbased
and nonchlorinat
ed
13-0110*
13-0205*

Synthet
ic

Readily
bio
degrada
ble oils

Other
oils

13-0111*
13-0206*

13-0112*
13-0207*

13-0113*
13-0208*

13-0306*

13-0307*

13-0308*

13-0309*

13-0310*