Waste codes

The waste codes sites take most

Every EWC code that at least 20 English permitted sites recorded in 2024, by chapter, each with what those sites did with it.

01 Mining and quarrying

01 04 08 waste gravel and crushed rocks other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 - 22 sites
01 04 09 waste sand and clays - 64 sites
01 04 13 wastes from stone cutting and sawing other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 - 20 sites
01 05 04 freshwater drilling muds and wastes - 32 sites
01 05 06* drilling muds and other drilling wastes containing dangerous substances - 20 sites

02 Agriculture, food and drink

02 01 01 sludges from washing and cleaning - 44 sites
02 01 02 animal tissue waste - 33 sites
02 01 03 plant tissue waste - 148 sites
02 01 04 waste plastics (except packaging) - 68 sites
02 01 06 animal faeces, urine and manure (including spoiled straw), effluent, collected separately and treated off-site - 201 sites
02 01 07 wastes from forestry - 37 sites
02 01 08* agrochemical waste containing hazardous substances - 44 sites
02 01 10 waste metal - 51 sites
02 02 01 sludges from washing and cleaning - 84 sites
02 02 02 animal tissue waste - 77 sites
02 02 03 materials unsuitable for consumption or processing - 105 sites
02 02 04 sludges from on-site effluent treatment - 102 sites
02 03 01 sludges from washing, cleaning, peeling, centrifuging and separation - 98 sites
02 03 04 materials unsuitable for consumption or processing - 181 sites
02 03 05 sludges from on-site effluent treatment - 84 sites
02 05 01 materials unsuitable for consumption or processing - 97 sites
02 05 02 sludges from on-site effluent treatment - 57 sites
02 06 01 materials unsuitable for consumption or processing - 88 sites
02 06 03 sludges from on-site effluent treatment - 50 sites
02 07 01 wastes from washing, cleaning and mechanical reduction of raw materials - 67 sites
02 07 02 wastes from spirits distillation - 22 sites
02 07 04 materials unsuitable for consumption or processing - 103 sites
02 07 05 sludges from on-site effluent treatment - 38 sites

03 Wood, paper and card

04 Leather, fur and textiles

04 02 22 wastes from processed textile fibres - 30 sites

05 Petroleum, gas and coal

05 01 06* oily sludges from maintenance operations of the plant or equipment - 21 sites

06 Inorganic chemicals

06 01 01* sulphuric acid and sulphurous acid - 54 sites
06 01 02* hydrochloric acid - 58 sites
06 01 04* phosphoric and phosphorous acid - 41 sites
06 01 05* nitric acid and nitrous acid - 54 sites
06 01 06* other acids - 67 sites
06 02 03* ammonium hydroxide - 29 sites
06 02 04* sodium and potassium hydroxide - 84 sites
06 02 05* other bases - 64 sites
06 03 13* solid salts and solutions containing heavy metals - 27 sites
06 03 14 solid salts and solutions other than those mentioned in 06 03 11 and 06 03 13 - 36 sites
06 04 05* wastes containing other heavy metals - 26 sites
06 05 03 sludges from on-site effluent treatment other than those mentioned on 06 05 02 - 23 sites
06 13 02* spent activated carbon (except 06 07 02) - 21 sites

07 Organic chemicals

07 01 01* aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors - 49 sites
07 01 03* organic halogenated solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 29 sites
07 01 04* other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 51 sites
07 01 12 sludges from on-site effluent treatment other than those mentioned in 07 01 11 - 25 sites
07 02 04* other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 29 sites
07 02 13 waste plastic - 62 sites
07 02 15 wastes from additives other than those mentioned in 07 02 14 - 23 sites
07 04 01* aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors - 24 sites
07 05 01* aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors - 40 sites
07 05 04* other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 36 sites
07 05 13* solid wastes containing hazardous substances - 25 sites
07 05 14 solid wastes other than those mentioned in 07 05 13 - 25 sites
07 06 01* aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors - 38 sites
07 06 04* other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 33 sites
07 07 01* aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors - 48 sites
07 07 03* organic halogenated solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 25 sites
07 07 04* other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors - 44 sites
07 07 08* other still bottoms and reaction residues - 23 sites

08 Paints, adhesives and inks

09 Photographic

09 01 01* water-based developer and activator solutions - 38 sites
09 01 04* fixer solutions - 35 sites

10 Thermal processes (power, metals, ceramics)

11 Metal treatment and coating

11 01 05* pickling acids - 33 sites
11 01 06* acids not otherwise specified - 47 sites
11 01 09* sludges and filter cakes containing hazardous substances - 49 sites
11 01 10 sludges and filter cakes other than those mentioned in 11 01 09 - 36 sites
11 01 11* aqueous rinsing liquids containing hazardous substances - 62 sites
11 01 12 aqueous rinsing liquids other than those mentioned in 11 01 11 - 47 sites
11 01 13* degreasing wastes containing hazardous substances - 68 sites
11 01 14 degreasing wastes other than those mentioned in 11 01 13 - 44 sites
11 01 98* other wastes containing hazardous substances - 26 sites

12 Shaping and surface treatment of metals and plastics

12 01 01 ferrous metal filings and turnings - 136 sites
12 01 03 non-ferrous metal filings and turnings - 142 sites
12 01 04 non-ferrous metal dust and particles - 24 sites
12 01 05 plastic shavings and turnings - 31 sites
12 01 07* mineral-based machining oils free of halogens (except emulsions and solutions) - 57 sites
12 01 08* machining emulsions and solutions containing halogens - 29 sites
12 01 09* machining emulsions and solutions free of halogens - 95 sites
12 01 10* synthetic machining oils - 38 sites
12 01 14* machining sludges containing hazardous substances - 45 sites
12 01 15 machining sludges other than those mentioned in 12 01 14 - 24 sites
12 01 16* waste blasting material containing hazardous substances - 64 sites
12 01 17 waste blasting materials other than those mentioned in 12 01 16 - 80 sites
12 01 18* metal sludge (grinding, honing and lapping sludge) containing oil - 35 sites
12 01 20* spent grinding bodies and grinding materials containing hazardous substances - 31 sites
12 01 21 spent grinding bodies and grinding materials other than those mentioned in 12 01 20 - 39 sites
12 03 01* aqueous washing liquids - 24 sites

13 Oil wastes

13 01 10* mineral-based non-chlorinated hydraulic oils - 103 sites
13 01 11* synthetic hydraulic oils - 39 sites
13 01 13* other hydraulic oils - 47 sites
13 02 04* mineral-based chlorinated engine, gear and lubricating oils - 25 sites
13 02 05* mineral-based non-chlorinated engine, gear and lubricating oils - 430 sites
13 02 06* synthetic engine, gear and lubricating oils - 68 sites
13 02 07* readily biodegradable engine, gear and lubricating oils - 33 sites
13 02 08* other engine, gear and lubricating oils - 185 sites
13 03 01* insulating or heat transmission oils containing PCB's - 50 sites
13 03 07* mineral-based non-chlorinated insulating and heat transmission oils - 117 sites
13 03 08* synthetic insulating and heat transmission oils - 34 sites
13 03 10* other insulating and heat transmission oils - 29 sites
13 04 03* bilge oils from other navigation - 28 sites
13 05 01* solids from grit chambers and oil/water separators - 26 sites
13 05 02* sludges from oil/water separators - 65 sites
13 05 03* interceptor sludges - 72 sites
13 05 06* oil from oil/water separators - 42 sites
13 05 07* oily water from oil/water separators - 137 sites
13 05 08* mixtures of wastes from grit chambers and oil/water separators - 51 sites
13 07 01* fuel oil and diesel - 130 sites
13 07 02* petrol - 34 sites
13 07 03* other fuels (including mixtures) - 128 sites
13 08 02* other emulsions - 52 sites

14 Solvents and refrigerants

14 06 02* other halogenated solvents and solvent mixtures - 54 sites
14 06 03* other solvents and solvent mixtures - 117 sites
14 06 05* sludges or solid wastes containing other solvents - 22 sites

15 Packaging, absorbents and filters

15 01 01 paper and cardboard packaging - 457 sites
15 01 02 plastic packaging - 357 sites
15 01 03 wooden packaging - 184 sites
15 01 04 metallic packaging - 138 sites
15 01 05 composite packaging - 82 sites
15 01 06 mixed packaging - 409 sites
15 01 07 glass packaging - 250 sites
15 01 10* packaging containing residues of or contaminated by hazardous substances - 220 sites
15 02 02* absorbents, filter materials (including oil filters not otherwise specified), wiping cloths, protective clothing contaminated by hazardous substances - 190 sites
15 02 03 absorbents, filter materials, wiping cloths and protective clothing other than those mentioned in 15 02 02 - 170 sites

16 Not otherwise specified (vehicles, WEEE, batteries)

16 01 03 end-of-life tyres - 672 sites
16 01 04* end-of-life vehicles - 767 sites
16 01 06 end-of-life vehicles, containing neither liquids nor other hazardous components - 221 sites
16 01 07* oil filters - 110 sites
16 01 12 brake pads other than those mentioned in 16 01 11 - 38 sites
16 01 13* brake fluids - 52 sites
16 01 14* antifreeze fluids containing hazardous substances - 129 sites
16 01 15 antifreeze fluids other than those mentioned in 16 01 14 - 37 sites
16 01 17 ferrous metal - 243 sites
16 01 18 non-ferrous metal - 219 sites
16 01 19 plastic - 30 sites
16 01 20 glass - 20 sites
16 01 21* hazardous components other than those mentioned in 16 01 07 to 16 01 11 and 16 01 13 and 16 01 14 - 198 sites
16 01 22 components not otherwise specified - 109 sites
16 02 11* discarded equipment containing chlorofluorocarbons, HCFC, HFC - 91 sites
16 02 13* discarded equipment containing hazardous components other than those mentioned in 16 02 09 to 16 02 12 - 135 sites
16 02 14 discarded equipment other than those mentioned in 16 02 09 to 16 02 13 - 184 sites
16 02 15* hazardous components removed from discarded equipment - 169 sites
16 02 16 components removed from discarded equipment other than those mentioned in 16 02 15 - 87 sites
16 03 03* inorganic wastes containing hazardous substances - 110 sites
16 03 04 inorganic wastes other than those mentioned in 16 03 03 - 132 sites
16 03 05* organic wastes containing hazardous substances - 131 sites
16 03 06 organic wastes other than those mentioned in 16 03 05 - 147 sites
16 05 04* gases in pressure containers(including halons) containing hazardous substances - 341 sites
16 05 05 gases in pressure containers other than those mentioned in 16 05 04 - 314 sites
16 05 06* laboratory chemicals, consisting of or containing hazardous substances, including mixtures of laboratory chemicals - 98 sites
16 05 07* discarded inorganic chemicals consisting of or containing hazardous substances - 70 sites
16 05 08* discarded organic chemicals consisting of or containing hazardous substances - 102 sites
16 05 09 discarded chemicals other than those mentioned in 16 05 06, 16 05 07 or 16 05 08 - 70 sites
16 06 01* lead batteries - 598 sites
16 06 02* Ni-Cd batteries - 66 sites
16 06 04 alkaline batteries - 86 sites
16 06 05 other batteries and accumulators - 94 sites
16 06 06* separately collected electrolyte from batteries and accumulators - 20 sites
16 07 08* wastes containing oil - 95 sites
16 07 09* wastes containing other hazardous substances - 67 sites
16 08 01 spent catalysts containing gold, silver, rhenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium or platinum (except 16 08 07) - 28 sites
16 09 03* peroxides, for example hydrogen peroxide - 42 sites
16 09 04* oxidising substances not otherwise specified - 34 sites
16 10 01* aqueous liquid wastes containing hazardous substances - 115 sites
16 10 02 aqueous liquid wastes other than those mentioned in 16 10 01 - 212 sites
16 10 03* aqueous concentrates containing hazardous substances - 22 sites
16 10 04 aqueous concentrates other than those mentioned in 16 10 03 - 27 sites
16 11 05* linings and refractories from non-metallurgical processes containing hazardous substances - 20 sites

17 Construction and demolition

17 01 01 concrete - 688 sites
17 01 02 bricks - 323 sites
17 01 03 tiles and ceramics - 127 sites
17 01 06* mixtures of, or separate fractions of concrete, bricks tiles and ceramics containing hazardous substances - 39 sites
17 01 07 mixtures of concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics other than those mentioned in 17 01 06 - 1,504 sites
17 02 01 wood - 665 sites
17 02 02 glass - 166 sites
17 02 03 plastic - 312 sites
17 02 04* glass, plastic and wood containing or contaminated with substances - 42 sites
17 03 01* bituminous mixtures containing coal tar - 63 sites
17 03 02 bituminous mixtures other than those mentioned in 17 03 01 - 586 sites
17 04 01 copper, bronze, brass - 252 sites
17 04 02 aluminium - 222 sites
17 04 03 lead - 176 sites
17 04 04 zinc - 37 sites
17 04 05 iron and steel - 346 sites
17 04 07 mixed metals - 559 sites
17 04 09* metal waste contaminated with hazardous substances - 30 sites
17 04 10* cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances - 160 sites
17 04 11 cables other than those mentioned in 17 04 10 - 268 sites
17 05 03* soil and stones containing hazardous substances - 108 sites
17 05 04 soil and stones other than those mentioned in 17 05 03 - 1,639 sites
17 05 06 dredging spoil other than those mentioned in 17 05 05 - 40 sites
17 05 08 track ballast other than those mentioned in 17 05 07 - 29 sites
17 06 01* insulating materials containing asbestos - 139 sites
17 06 03* other insulating materials consisting of or containing hazardous materials - 32 sites
17 06 04 insulating materials other than those mentioned in 17 06 01 and 17 06 03 - 137 sites
17 06 05* construction materials containing asbestos - 473 sites
17 08 02 gypsum-based construction materials other than those mentioned in 17 08 01 - 1,033 sites
17 09 03* other construction and demolition wastes (including mixed wastes) containing hazardous substances - 44 sites
17 09 04 mixed construction and demolition wastes other than those mentioned in 17 09 01, 17 09 02 and 17 09 03 - 1,013 sites

18 Health care

19 Waste and water treatment

19 01 02 ferrous materials removed from bottom ash - 33 sites
19 01 07* solid wastes from gas treatment - 24 sites
19 01 11* bottom ash and slag containing hazardous substances - 27 sites
19 01 12 bottom ash and slag other than those mentioned in 19 01 11 - 73 sites
19 02 03 premixed wastes composed only of non-hazardous wastes - 80 sites
19 02 04* premixed wastes composed of at least one hazardous waste - 55 sites
19 02 05* sludges from physico/chemical treatment containing substances - 51 sites
19 02 06 sludges from physico/chemical treatment other than those mentioned in 19 02 05 - 117 sites
19 02 07* oil and concentrates from separation - 28 sites
19 02 08* liquid combustible wastes containing hazardous substances - 24 sites
19 02 10 combustible wastes other than those mentioned in 19 02 08 and 19 02 09 - 36 sites
19 05 03 off-specification compost - 76 sites
19 06 05 liquor from anaerobic treatment of animal and vegetable waste - 20 sites
19 06 06 digestate from anaerobic treatment of animal and vegetable waste - 110 sites
19 07 03 landfill leachate other than those mentioned in 19 07 02 - 102 sites
19 08 01 screenings - 56 sites
19 08 02 waste from desanding - 35 sites
19 08 05 sludges from treatment of urban waste water - 161 sites
19 08 09 grease and oil mixture from oil/water separation containing only edible oil and fats - 31 sites
19 08 12 sludges from biological treatment of industrial waste water other than those mentioned in 19 08 11 - 36 sites
19 09 02 sludges from water clarification - 97 sites
19 09 04 spent activated carbon - 35 sites
19 09 05 saturated or spent ion exchange resins - 40 sites
19 10 01 iron and steel waste - 46 sites
19 10 02 non-ferrous waste - 46 sites
19 10 04 fluff-light fraction and dust other than those mentioned on 19 10 03 - 38 sites
19 10 06 other fraction other than those mentioned in 19 10 05 - 25 sites
19 12 01 paper and cardboard - 168 sites
19 12 02 ferrous metal - 387 sites
19 12 03 non-ferrous metal - 353 sites
19 12 04 plastic and rubber - 309 sites
19 12 05 glass - 57 sites
19 12 07 wood other than that mentioned in 19 12 06 - 256 sites
19 12 08 textiles - 30 sites
19 12 09 minerals (For example,. sand, stones) - 161 sites
19 12 10 combustible waste (refuse derived fuel) - 182 sites
19 12 11* other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of waste containing hazardous substances - 111 sites
19 12 12 other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11 - 621 sites
19 13 02 solid wastes from soil remediation other than those mentioned in 19 13 01 - 34 sites
19 13 07* aqueous liquid wastes and aqueous concentrates from groundwater remediation containing hazardous substances - 24 sites
19 13 08 aqueous liquid wastes and aqueous concentrates from groundwater remediation other than those mentioned in 19 13 07 - 35 sites

20 Municipal and household

20 01 01 paper and cardboard - 1,121 sites
20 01 02 glass - 697 sites
20 01 08 biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste - 305 sites
20 01 10 clothes - 93 sites
20 01 11 textiles - 635 sites
20 01 13* solvents - 135 sites
20 01 14* acids - 60 sites
20 01 15* alkalines - 58 sites
20 01 17* photochemicals - 21 sites
20 01 19* pesticides - 76 sites
20 01 21* fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing waste - 471 sites
20 01 23* discarded equipment containing chlorofluorocarbons - 701 sites
20 01 25 edible oil and fat - 423 sites
20 01 26* oil and fat other than those mentioned in 20 01 25 - 249 sites
20 01 27* paint, inks, adhesives and resins containing hazardous substances - 323 sites
20 01 28 paint, inks, adhesives and resins other than those mentioned in 20 01 27 - 188 sites
20 01 29* detergents containing hazardous substances - 81 sites
20 01 30 detergents other than those mentioned in 20 01 29 - 52 sites
20 01 33* batteries and accumulators included in 16 06 01, 16 06 02 or 16 06 03 and unsorted batteries and accumulators containing these batteries - 616 sites
20 01 34 batteries and accumulators other than those mentioned in 20 01 33 - 134 sites
20 01 35* discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21 and 20 01 23 containing hazardous components - 842 sites
20 01 36 discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21, 20 01 23 and 20 01 35 - 756 sites
20 01 38 wood other than that mentioned on 20 01 37 - 1,009 sites
20 01 39 plastics - 735 sites
20 01 40 metals - 1,189 sites
20 01 99 other fractions not otherwise specified - 173 sites
20 02 01 biodegradable waste - 1,398 sites
20 02 02 soil and stones - 650 sites
20 02 03 other non-biodegradable wastes - 53 sites
20 03 01 mixed municipal waste - 2,001 sites
20 03 02 waste from markets - 27 sites
20 03 03 street-cleaning residues - 556 sites
20 03 04 septic tank sludge - 87 sites
20 03 06 waste from sewage cleaning - 32 sites
20 03 07 bulky waste - 1,141 sites

Questions

Where do these figures come from?

The Environment Agency's 2024 Waste Data Interrogator (Wastes Received). Each count is the number of English permitted sites that recorded that code in 2024. No site is named.

How do I type an EWC code for Defra?

Six digits, typed without spaces, for example 170904. Hazardous entries carry an asterisk in the catalogue. Every column on Defra's template.

What do R13 and D15 mean?

R13 is waste stored, then sent on to recovery. D15 is waste stored, then sent on to disposal. Each code page shows which R and D codes sites used for that waste, and every load needs one with its weight.