The Environment Agency maintains documentation in relation to hazardous wastes guidance titled, "WM2 Hazardous Waste: Interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous waste".
This guidance contains at Appendix A, a consolidated version of the European Waste Catalogue (EWC 2002) and also gives a brief summary of how to use the catalogue.
The Appendix is aimed at providing guidance on the use of the European Waste Catalogue
(EWC 2002). It reproduces the EWC 2002 in full, including amendments, and also covers instructions for for its use.
Under the Duty of Care, waste producers have a duty to classify and describe their waste correctly including selecting the most appropriate six-digit code from the EWC 2002. The written description must not simply reproduce the description from the EWC 2002 that accompanies each classification code.
The EWC contains 20 chapters that are based upon the source that generated the waste or upon the type of waste. Each chapter is identified by a two-digit number e.g., 07 Wastes from Organic Chemical Processes.
Chapters of the EWC
In the list below the chapter number is followed by its title:
01 Wastes resulting from exploration, mining, quarrying, physical and chemical treatment of
minerals
02 Wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing, food
preparation and processing
03 Wastes from wood processing and the production of panels and furniture, pulp, paper and cardboard
04 Wastes from the leather, fur and textile industries
05 Wastes from petroleum refining, natural gas purification and pyrolytic treatment of coal
06 Wastes from inorganic chemical processes
07 Wastes from organic chemical processes
08 Wastes from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use (MFSU) of coatings (paints,
varnishes and vitreous enamels), adhesives, sealants and printing inks
09 Wastes from the photographic industry
10 Wastes from thermal processes
11 Wastes from Chemical surface treatment and coating of metals and other materials; non-ferrous hydro-metallurgy
12 Wastes from shaping and physical and mechanical surface treatment of metals and plastics
13 Oil wastes and wastes of liquid fuels (except edible oils, and those in chapters 05, 12, 19)
14 Waste organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants (except 07 and 08 )
15 Waste packaging; absorbents, wiping cloths, filter materials and protective clothing not other wise specified
16 Wastes not otherwise specified on the list
17 Construction and demolition wastes (including excavated soil from contaminated sites)
18 Wastes from human or animal health care and/or related research (except kitchen and restaurant wastes not arising from immediate health care )
19 Wastes from waste management facilities, off-site waste water treatment plants and the
preparation of water intended for human consumption and water for industrial use
20 Municipal wastes (household waste and similar commercial, industrial and institutional wastes) including separately collected fractions.
Each of these chapters contains sub-chapters that are identified by four digits, e.g., 07 01 Wastes from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use of basic organic chemicals.
The unique six-digit code for each waste is contained within the sub-chapters e.g., 07 01 01* aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors.
The Environment Agency provides details of a series of steps for identifying wastes in the catalogue and determining whether a waste is covered by a hazardous waste entry. The catalogue can be found on the Agency web site.
Evolution of the Waste List
According to the Europa website at 1.2.06, the legislative evolution of the waste list is as follows:
Waste list
Decision 2000/532/EC [Official Journal L 226 of 06.09.2000]
Commission Decision of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste. This Decision establishes a single Community list incorporating the hazardous waste listed in Decision 94/904/EC and the waste listed in Decision 94/3/EC. It repeals those two decisions with effect from 1 January 2002.
This Decision has been amended by the following Council decisions:
Decision 2001/118/EC [Official Journal L 47 of 16.02.2001]
Decision 2001/119/EC [Official Journal L 47 of 16.02.2001]
Decision 2001/573/EC [Official Journal L 203 of 28.07.2001]