How to classify and consign hazardous waste

Every business will need to identify their hazardous waste (and indeed all their waste) with the help of the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) in order to complete the consignment notes correctly. The EWC lists wastes by chapter and each identified waste has a code this is the EWC Code.

 Implementation of the EWC (and Revised Hazardous Waste List) will bring new additions into the HWR - the newly hazardous wastes. A few examples: 

·          ·  Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT): Televisions and computer monitors (EWC 16 02 13*)

·          ·  Fluorescent tubes (EWC 20 01 21*)

·          ·  Certain types of batteries (EWC 16 06 ..*/20 01 33*)

·          ·  All oils (except edible) from waste producers (EWC Chapter 13 ** **)

 IDENTIFYING YOUR WASTE WITH THE EUROPEAN WASTE CATALOGUE (EWC)

 We have outlined below 3 methods of searching for an EWC code. The first 2 of them are online tools

First Method - Use our online EWC Code Lookup tool to follow the recommended 3 steps laid out by EA at
 http://www.chemrec.co.uk/hazwaste/ewc_look_up.asp

Second Method – Search the whole catalogue for keywords such as “engine oil” or “solvents”:

 In some cases it might be easier to do a text search of all the waste types available and then try and work back to the closest EWC match – our online text search tool will allow you to do this at same link as above -  http://www.chemrec.co.uk/hazwaste/ewc_look_up.asp

 Third Method – Obtain or download a copy of the full list of wastes from the Environment Agency on 08708 502 858 or download it  (WM2 - Interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous waste technical guidance) and follow the methodology described there, which we have summarised as:

 The EWC will assist in identifying hazardous wastes and in completing consignment notes with the six digit code provided for each waste type. Split into 20 chapters, Chapters 1-12 and 17-20 describe wastes from business types and general process types, chapters 13-15 describe particular generic groups of waste and chapter 16 describes wastes not otherwise specified. Codes ending with 99 are normally not used unless no other code can be found (non descriptive).

 Step I: Identify your Industry/Source/Process and go to Chapters 1-12 or 17-20 first. Once you have identified the appropriate Chapter (if your activity is in 2 chapters use the Chapter with the closest match) you need to find the sub-group of that Industry and finally you will be presented with a list of wastes and you should choose the closest match to the waste you have – the one selected is the EWC code.

            If however you have made a choice using a code ending 99 or have not found a Chapter that fits the waste then go to:

 Step II: Identify the generic waste group and go to Chapters 13-15 to choose the closest match to the waste you have – the one selected is the EWC code

 If you had a code in step 1 ending 99 and have not found a suitable code or cannot find an appropriate code then go to:

 Step III: Identify the specific waste using Chapter 16 if no code can be found and only then use the 99 codes of the appropriate chapter

  YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR EWC CODE - IS THE WASTE HAZARDOUS?

If the code ends in an asterisk and is an absolute entry then it is hazardous regardless of any other properties.

If it is a mirror entry then it is potentially hazardous and you need to assess the waste for its actual properties following the methodology laid out by the Environment Agency. The classification of mirror entries is very complex and will need to be carried by out a waste producer.