What is the European Waste Catalogue?
The European Waste Catalogue is a list of waste types, each with its own code. In England it is used as the List of Waste. GOV.UK guidance on how to classify different types of waste states that your waste paperwork must include "the waste classification code, also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) code or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code".
The full list of codes appears in Appendix A of the Environment Agency's Technical Guidance WM3, the main reference for assessing and classifying waste in England.
How EWC codes are structured
Each EWC code has six digits, written in three pairs:
- The first pair is the chapter. Chapters group waste by the industry or process that produced it, or by the type of waste.
- The second pair is the sub-chapter, which narrows the group down.
- The third pair identifies the specific waste.
For example, the GOV.UK guidance on packaging waste lists 15 01 01 for clean paper and cardboard packaging and 15 01 02 for clean plastic packaging. Both sit in chapter 15, which covers packaging among other things.
Some codes appear in more than one chapter depending on where the waste came from. GOV.UK's guidance on classifying waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) lists separate codes for household and business waste. Fridges and freezers containing ozone-depleting substances, for example, are 20 01 23* from households and 16 02 11* from businesses.
What does the asterisk mean in an EWC code?
GOV.UK states that "an asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous". A code without an asterisk is non-hazardous.
For example, the packaging guidance lists 15 01 10* for empty packaging with hazardous residues, such as paint cans, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and drums. Clean packaging of the same material has a non-hazardous code.
Absolute and mirror entries
WM3 describes two kinds of entry in the list:
- Absolute entries are always hazardous or always non-hazardous, whatever the waste contains.
- Mirror entries come in pairs: one hazardous and one non-hazardous. Which one applies depends on the substances in the waste and how much of each is present.
GOV.UK explains that for wastes with more than one possible classification, the producer must find out what is in the waste and how much of it is hazardous. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and the technical guidance help with this.
Who chooses the EWC code?
Classification is the waste producer's legal duty. GOV.UK states: "You must classify the waste your business produces before it is collected, disposed of or recovered." The producer must also describe the waste in the paperwork given to the waste contractor, including the premises, the substances, the process that produced the waste and any special handling needs.
GOV.UK also notes that landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results must not be used for classification, and that "it's illegal to mix hazardous or POPs waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste". POPs are persistent organic pollutants.
Where a container holds more than one type of non-hazardous waste, the guidance states that more than one code will usually be needed.
Where EWC codes appear on waste paperwork
The EWC code goes on the paperwork for every waste transfer:
- Waste transfer notes for non-hazardous waste, under the Waste duty of care code of practice
- Consignment notes for hazardous waste, under the GOV.UK hazardous waste rules
Codes ending in an asterisk mean the waste is hazardous, so it needs a consignment note rather than a waste transfer note. Our hazardous waste disposal service includes the paperwork for each collection.
What we need to know before a collection
We collect a wide range of business waste, including chemical waste, batteries, electrical waste, plastics and paper. Before we can quote or arrange a collection, our team needs a description of the waste: what it is, the process that produced it, approximate quantities, whether any of it is hazardous, and the collection location. A Safety Data Sheet helps where one exists.
Unknown waste cannot be accepted without identification. If you are unsure how your waste is described, speak to our team.
Rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
This article describes the position in England. In Scotland, hazardous waste is called special waste and is regulated by SEPA. Wales is regulated by Natural Resources Wales and Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Frequently asked questions
What does EWC stand for?
EWC stands for European Waste Catalogue. In England the same codes are known as List of Waste (LoW) codes.
How many digits does an EWC code have?
Six, written in three pairs: chapter, sub-chapter and the specific waste.
What does an asterisk on an EWC code mean?
GOV.UK states that an asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.
Where can I find the full list of EWC codes?
The full list is in Appendix A of the Environment Agency's Technical Guidance WM3. GOV.UK also publishes shorter guides for common waste types.
Sources
- GOV.UK: How to classify different types of waste
- Environment Agency: Technical Guidance WM3, waste classification
- GOV.UK: Packaging waste and recyclables, how to classify
- GOV.UK: WEEE, how to classify
- GOV.UK: Waste duty of care code of practice
Speak to our team
To discuss your waste, contact our team on 0845 366 9306 or email recycle@collectandrecycle.com.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute professional or legal advice. Waste producers are legally responsible for correctly classifying their waste. For guidance on your specific waste, please contact our team.