Albion\’s ABC\’s of Waste Management – E

E – European Waste Catalogue (EWC)

 

The European Waste Catalogue is a hierarchical list of waste description produced by the EU, originating from Decision 2000/532/EC. Anyone responsible for waste is required to refer to this list when completing the relevant documentation under waste legislation. It is divided into 20 chapters with around 650 codes in total. These chapters relate to different industries or materials and processes, with each type of waste within a chapter given a six digit code. These codes allow European waste to be better controlled and monitored by offering a standardised and consistent description of the waste.

Hazardous wastes are identified within the list by an asterisk, often having two entries whereby there is a code for both the hazardous and non-hazardous versions of waste. Codes ending in 99 are used for ‘waste not otherwise specified’ however the Environment Agency generally dislikes the use of these codes on Waste Transfer and Consignment Notes.

For further information https://www.gov.uk/how-to-classify-different-types-of-waste/overview