EWC Codes
The European Waste Catalogue (EWC) is a list of waste types, established by the European Commission Decision 2000/532/EC1, which categorises wastes based on a combination of what they are, and the process or activity that produces them, into a number of codes. It provides a standard framework for the comparison of waste data (statistics) and form of ‘operational language’ for waste reporting.
The EWC is used in several reports including quarterly/annual waste data returns to regulators (including SEPA [1], the EA and NIEA) waste transfer notes, and Hazardous Waste consignment notes.
Approach
The EWC is divided into 20 chapters, most of which are industry-based, although some are based on materials and processes. Individual waste types are assigned a six-digit code so as an example, for code 10 02 13*
- the first two digits specify the ‘chapter’ (i.e. 10 waste from thermal processes)
- the next two specify the ‘subchapter’ (i.e 02 wastes from the iron and steel industry) and
- the last two are specific to the ‘waste type’ (i.e.13 sludges and filter cakes from gas treatment containing hazardous substances) and finally
- Hazardous Waste is signified by entries where the six-digit EWC code is marked by an asterisk (*) on the last two digits.
