Reference

UK European Waste Catalogue (EWC) Codes

Every waste transfer note in the UK requires an EWC code — a six-digit classifier from the European Waste Catalogue that identifies the waste stream. Describe your waste in plain English below and our AI search will suggest the closest codes, or browse all 842 entries from the UK List of Wastes grouped by chapter. Codes marked hazardous require a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note rather than a standard WTN.

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AI suggestions are a starting point, not legal advice. The waste carrier remains responsible for selecting the correct EWC code under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Browse all 842 codes by chapter

Prefer to browse? Jump into any of the 20 EWC chapters.

01 01Wastes from mineral excavation

01 03Wastes from physical and chemical processing of metalliferous minerals

01 04Wastes from physical and chemical processing of non-metalliferous minerals

01 05Drilling muds and other drilling wastes

02 01Wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing

02 02Wastes from the preparation and processing of meat, fish and other foods of animal origin

02 03Wastes from fruit, vegetables, cereals, edible oils, cocoa, coffee, tea and tobacco preparation and processing; conserve production; yeast and yeast extract production, molasses preparation and fermentation

02 04Wastes from sugar processing

02 05Wastes from the dairy products industry

02 06Wastes from the baking and confectionery industry

02 07Wastes from the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except coffee, tea and cocoa)

03 01Wastes from wood processing and the production of panels and furniture

03 02Wastes from wood preservation

03 03Wastes from pulp, paper and cardboard production and processing

04 01Wastes from the leather and fur industry

04 02Wastes from the textile industry

05 01Wastes from petroleum refining

05 06Wastes from the pyrolytic treatment of coal

05 07Wastes from natural gas purification and transportation

06 01Wastes from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use (mfsu) of acids

06 02Wastes from the mfsu of bases

06 03Wastes from the mfsu of salts and their solutions and metallic oxides

06 04Metal-containing wastes other than those mentioned in 06 03

06 05Sludges from on-site effluent treatment

06 06Sludges from on-site effluent treatment

06 07Wastes from the mfsu of halogens and halogen chemical processes

06 08Wastes from the mfsu of silicon and silicon derivatives

06 09Wastes from the msfu of phosphorous chemicals and phosphorous chemical processes

06 10Wastes from the mfsu of nitrogen chemicals, nitrogen chemical processes and fertiliser manufacture

06 11Wastes from the manufacture of inorganic pigments and opacificiers

06 13Wastes from inorganic chemical processes not otherwise specified

07 01Wastes from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use (mfsu) of basic organic chemicals

07 02Wastes from the mfsu of plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres

07 03Wastes from the mfsu of organic dyes and pigments (except 06 11)

07 04Wastes from the mfsu of organic plant protection products (except 02 01 08 and 02 01 09), wood preserving agents (except 03 02) and other biocides

07 05Wastes from the mfsu of pharmaceuticals

07 06Wastes from the mfsu of fats, grease, soaps, detergents, disinfectants and cosmetics

07 07Wastes from the mfsu of fine chemicals and chemical products not otherwise specified

08 01Wastes from mfsu and removal of paint and varnish

08 02Wastes from mfsu of other coatings (including ceramic materials)

08 03Wastes from mfsu of printing inks

08 04Wastes from mfsu of adhesives and sealants (including waterproofing products)

08 05Wastes not otherwise specified in 08

09 01Wastes from the photographic industry

10 01Wastes from power stations and other combustion plants (except 19)

10 02Wastes from the iron and steel industry

10 03Wastes from aluminium thermal metallurgy

10 04Wastes from lead thermal metallurgy

10 05Wastes from zinc thermal metallurgy

10 06Wastes from copper thermal metallurgy

10 07Wastes from silver, gold and platinum thermal metallurgy

10 08Wastes from other non-ferrous thermal metallurgy

10 09Wastes from casting of ferrous pieces

10 10Wastes from casting of non-ferrous pieces

10 11Wastes from manufacture of glass and glass products

10 12Wastes from manufacture of ceramic goods, bricks, tiles and construction products

10 13Wastes from manufacture of cement, lime and plaster and articles and products made from them

10 14Waste from crematoria

11 01Wastes from chemical surface treatment and coating of metals and other materials (for example galvanic processes, zinc coating processes, pickling processes, etching, phosphating, alkaline degreasing, anodising)

11 02Wastes from non-ferrous hydrometallurgical processes

11 03Sludges and solids from tempering processes

11 05Wastes from hot galvanising processes

12 01Wastes from shaping and physical and mechanical surface treatment of metals and plastics

12 03Wastes from water and steam degreasing processes (except 11)

13 01Waste hydraulic oils

13 02Waste engine, gear and lubricating oils

13 03Waste insulating and heat transmission oils

13 04Bilge oils

13 05Oil/water separator contents

13 07Wastes of liquid fuels

13 08Oil wastes not otherwise specified

14 06Waste organic solvents, refrigerants and foam/aerosol propellants

15 01Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste)

15 02Absorbents, filter materials, wiping cloths and protective clothing

16 01End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13, 14, 16 06 and 16 08)

16 02Wastes from electrical and electronic equipment

16 03Off-specification batches and unused products

16 04Waste explosives

16 05Gases in pressure containers and discarded chemicals

16 06Batteries and accumulators

16 07Wastes from transport tank, storage tank and barrel cleaning (except 05 and 13)

16 08Spent catalysts

16 09Oxidising substances

16 10Aqueous liquid wastes destined for off-site treatment

16 11Waste linings and refractories

17 01Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

17 02Wood, glass and plastic

17 03Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tarred products

17 04Metals (including their alloys)

17 05Soil (including excavated soil from contaminated sites), stones and dredging spoil

17 06Insulation materials and asbestos-containing construction materials

17 08Gypsum-based construction material

17 09Other construction and demolition wastes

18 01Wastes from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans

18 02Wastes from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals

19 01Wastes from incineration or pyrolysis of waste

19 02Wastes from physico/chemical treatments of waste (including dechromatation, decyanidation, neutralisation)

19 03Stabilised/solidified wastes

19 04Vitrified waste and wastes from vitrification

19 05Wastes from aerobic treatment of solid wastes

19 06Wastes from anaerobic treatment of waste

19 07Landfill leachate

19 08Wastes from waste water treatment plants not otherwise specified

19 09Wastes from the preparation of water intended for human consumption or water for industrial use

19 10Wastes from shredding of metal-containing wastes

19 11Wastes from oil regeneration

19 12Wastes from the mechanical treatment of waste (for example sorting, crushing, compacting, pelletising) not otherwise specified

19 13Wastes from soil and groundwater remediation

20 01Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)

20 02Garden and park wastes (including cemetery waste)

20 03Other municipal wastes

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