I am a GP partner in a small, private medical practice in London. We have recently gotten through a lot of gowns and other PPE as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and these now need to be classified for disposal. How are potentially COVID-infected gowns and other PPE to be classified?

‘Offensive waste’ is non-clinical waste that’s non-infectious and does not contain pharmaceutical or chemical substances, but may be unpleasant to anyone who comes into contact with it.

Classify different types of waste

Overview

You must identify and classify your waste before you send it for recycling or disposal. This makes sure you or anyone handling your waste deals with it properly.

There are special rules for dealing with hazardous waste or disposing of waste with a high level of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), (known as ‘POPs waste’).

Filling in waste transfer or consignment notes

You must describe your waste in the paperwork you give your waste contractor. This must include:

the waste classification code, also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code - classification codes for common types of waste are in the relevant parts of this guidance

whether it’s hazardous or POPs waste

the type of premises or business where the waste was produced

the name of the substance or substances

the process that produced the waste

a chemical and physical analysis of the waste and its components

any special problems, requirements or knowledge related to the waste

If you cannot find a code for your waste

Check the technical guidance on waste, it includes more information about waste classification and assessing waste.

You must not use landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results for waste classification purposes.

How to find out if your waste is hazardous or POPs waste

In most cases you can check the waste code or codes associated with your waste to see if they are hazardous and POPs waste. You must make sure your waste contractor can dispose of this waste properly.

Some waste items have more than one classification, depending on the possible mix of substances in them.

In these cases you must work out exactly what is in your waste, and how much of it is hazardous or POPs.

Check the manufacturers’ product safety data sheets for this information or carry out an assessment.

Many products include orange and black danger symbols or red and white hazard pictograms to indicate they’re hazardous.

Some products (for example cosmetics and medicines) are not normally labelled with hazard symbols - check the product’s safety data sheet.

Read the technical guidance on waste and guidance on dealing with POPs waste) for more information on checking for hazardous substances and POPs.

Mixing waste

It’s illegal to mix hazardous or POPs waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste.

Check how to mix and store hazardous waste.

You will usually need more than one code if you store more than one type of non-hazardous waste in your container.

If you need more help

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you’re not sure whether it’s hazardous or not.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

Construction and demolition waste

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Insulation and asbestos materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Insulation containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-01*

Other insulation containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-06-03*

Other insulation materials | Non-hazardous | 17-06-04

Other construction materials containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-05*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

| Waste status | Waste code

Concrete | Non-hazardous | 17-01-01

Bricks | Non-hazardous | 17-01-02

Tiles and ceramics | Non-hazardous | 17-01-03

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-01-06*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in mixtures, containing no hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 17-01-07

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the packaging section for related codes.

| Waste status | Waste code

Wood - untreated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-01

Glass - uncontaminated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-02

Plastic - excludes packaging waste | Non-hazardous | 17-02-03

Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-02-04*

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

| Waste status | Waste code

Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar | Hazardous | 17-03-01*

Other bituminous mixtures | Non-hazardous | 17-03-02

Coal tar and tarred products | Hazardous | 17-03-03*

Metallic waste, including cable

| Waste status | Waste code

Copper, bronze and brass | Non-hazardous | 17-04-01

Aluminium | Non-hazardous | 17-04-02

Lead | Non-hazardous | 17-04-03

Iron and steel | Non-hazardous | 17-04-05

Tin | Non-hazardous | 17-04-06

Mixed metals | Non-hazardous | 17-04-07

Metals containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-09*

Cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-10*

Other cables | Non-hazardous | 17-04-11

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

You must be able to prove that your waste does not contain any hazardous substances to classify soil as non-hazardous - you’ll always need to assess the soil before you hand it over to be collected.

The presence of any fragments of asbestos-containing material in the soil results in a mixed hazardous waste - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for more guidance.

| Waste status | Waste code

Soil and stones containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-03*

Other soil and stones | Non-hazardous | 17-05-04

Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-05*

Other dredging spoil | Non-hazardous | 17-05-06

Gypsum

| Waste status | Waste code

Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-08-01*

Other gypsum materials | Non-hazardous | 17-08-02

Cement

| Waste status | Waste code

Un-used or un-set cement | Hazardous | 17-09-03*

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-01-11* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-01-12 (20-01-28)

Paint or varnish remover | Hazardous | 08-01-21*

Paint cans | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-04-09* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-04-10 (20-01-28)

Adhesive or sealant containers | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Packaging waste and recyclables

The tables below list waste codes for common packaging and domestic type recyclable wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.

| Waste status | Plastic | Metal | Paper and cardboard | Glass | Textiles

Clean packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging | Non-hazardous | 20-01-39 | 20-01-40 | 20-01-01 | 20-01-02 | 20-01-11

Mixed clean material - including packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 and 20-01-39 | 15-01-04 and 20-01-40 | 15-01-01 and 20-01-01 | 15-01-07 and 20-01-02 | 15-01-09 and 20-01-10

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of hazardous substances, for example paint cans, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and drums | Hazardous | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10* | 15-01-10*

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Electronic and electrical equipment

These tables list common waste codes for batteries, lightbulbs and electrical devices.

You need to include all relevant classification codes if you place waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that would be assigned different codes in the same container.

Hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste electricals

WEEE often has components that contain hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These could include:

printed circuit boards

plastic casings, cables and other components

insulation foam

cooling agents

flame retardants

activated glass and screen phosphors

cathode ray tubes

capacitors

Ni-Cd batteries

If the levels of hazardous substances or POPs are over a certain amount the item will be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

If your WEEE is POPs waste you cannot reuse or recycle it.

There are special rules about:

where you can export WEEE that contains POPs

dealing with hazardous waste

disposing of POPs waste

If you’ve assessed your waste and are still not sure if an item is hazardous or POPs waste, you should treat it as hazardous and POPs waste as a precaution.

Read technical guidance on how to assess waste and identifying POPs waste.

Televisions, computer monitors and other display devices

Components such as screens, circuit boards, batteries or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Cathode ray tube (CRT), flatscreen (plasma or LCD) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Fridges, freezers, chillers and air-conditioning units

Components such as circuit boards, motors and any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs. Coolants and foam may also be hazardous. Usually there is not enough POPs for the item to be classified as POPs waste.

Containing ozone-depleting substances as foam blowing agents or coolants | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-23* | 16-02-11*

Other | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

Large domestic appliances (LDA): white goods (washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and cookers)

Components such as circuit boards, motors or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs. Usually there is not enough for the item to be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

Large domestic appliances: white goods | Non-hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Small mixed WEEE

These are small household-type electrical items collected from homes or businesses.

Small mixed WEEE containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Other household-type electricals from homes or businesses

These are waste electrical items collected from households or businesses that are not already listed and are separated from small mixed WEEE.

Cat 1: Large household appliances (other than LDA white goods) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 2: Small household appliances containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 3: IT and telecommunication equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 4: Consumer equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 5: Lighting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 6: Electronic and electrical tools containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 7: Toys, leisure and sporting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Lightbulbs and lamps

Components such as circuit boards, plastic parts or casings may contain POPs and hazardous chemicals, such as flame retardants.

You must check the levels of hazardous substances and POPs in the bulbs before you can classify the waste. Read guidance on assessing WEEE for hazardous substances or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Fluorescent tubes and low energy - excluding LED and other gas-discharge lamps | Hazardous | 20-01-21* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent not containing hazardous components | Non-hazardous | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Batteries

Lead acid (vehicle) | Hazardous | 16-06-01* | 16-06-01*

Lead acid (other) | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-01*

Nickel-Cadmium | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-02*

Mercury containing | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-03*

Alkaline | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-04

Other - Lithium or Lithium ion | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-05

Mixed household-type batteries - separately collected | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | Not allowed

Other WEEE, parts and components

If your waste is not listed, you can find more classes in the guidance on classifying waste from dismantling or treating WEEE.

Vehicle and oily wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common wastes produced by vehicle maintenance and dismantling activities.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Vehicle fluids and other oils

You must not mix any of the following fluids:

mineral oils

cooking oils

halogenated oils

brake fluids

anti-freeze

washer fluids

oily waters

Vehicle and other oils

| Waste status | Contains PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) | Mineral-based and chlorinated | Mineral-based and non-chlorinated | Synthetic | Readily biodegradable | Other oils

Hydraulic oils | Hazardous | 13-01-01* | 13-01-09* | 13-01-10* | 13-01-11* | 13-01-12* | 13-01-13*

Engine, gear and lubricating oils | Hazardous | Not applicable | 13-02-04* | 13-02-05* | 13-02-06* | 13-02-07* | 13-02-08*

Insulating and transmission oils | Hazardous | 13-03-01* | 13-03-06* | 13-03-07* | 13-03-08* | 13-03-09* | 13-03-10*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Interceptor wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Interceptor sludges | Hazardous | 13-05-03*

Oily water from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-07*

Solid waste from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-01*

Fuels, brake and anti-freeze fluids

| Waste status | Waste code

Fuel oil and diesel | Hazardous | 13-07-01*

Petrol | Hazardous | 13-07-02*

Other fuels, including mixed fuels from mis-fuelling | Hazardous | 13-07-03*

Brake fluids | Hazardous | 16-01-13*

Antifreeze containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 16-01-14*

Antifreeze not containing hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 16-01-15

Vehicles and their components

The waste code for end-of-life (no longer usable) tyres is 16-01-03.

Vehicles

| Waste status | Waste code

End-of-life vehicles - un-depolluted | Hazardous | 16-01-04*

End-of-life vehicles - depolluted | Non-hazardous | 16-01-06

Components, including oil filters

| Waste status | Waste code

Oil filters | Hazardous | 16-01-07*

Components containing mercury | Hazardous | 16-01-08*

Components containing PCBs | Hazardous | 16-01-09*

Air bags

The waste code for explosive components (for example air bags) is 16-01-10*.

Brake pads

| Waste status | Waste code

Brake pads containing asbestos | Hazardous | 16-01-11*

Other brake pads | Non-hazardous | 16-01-12

Car batteries

The waste code for lead acid car batteries is 16-06-01*.

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Catalytic converters

The waste code for catalytic converters is 16 01 21*, or 16 01 22 for those that do not contain refractory ceramic fibres (RCF).

End-of-life vehicle wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-17

Non-ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-18

Plastic | Non-hazardous | 16-01-19

Vehicle glass | Non-hazardous | 16-01-20

Contaminated materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances | Hazardous | 15-02-02*

Clothing, absorbents or wiping clothes contaminated with non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-02-03

Healthcare and related wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common healthcare and related wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Additional guidance

Check the guide to the safe management of healthcare waste for additional information about classifying clinical and healthcare waste.

Offensive waste

| Examples | Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Healthcare offensive waste | Outer dressings and protective clothing like masks, gowns and gloves that are not contaminated with body fluids, and sterilised laboratory waste | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Municipal offensive waste | Hygiene waste and sanitary protection like nappies and incontinence pads | Non-hazardous | 20-01-99 | 20-01-99

You must segregate healthcare offensive waste from both clinical and mixed municipal wastes.

If you’ve produced more than 7kg of municipal offensive waste, or have more than one bag in a collection period, you must segregate it from any mixed municipal waste.

If you’ve produced less, you can dispose of your municipal offensive waste in your mixed municipal waste (‘black bag’). Use classification code 20-03-01.

Plaster and similar wastes

Most plaster waste is non-infectious.

It should be kept separately from any plaster waste that’s infectious, which must be placed in the bagged infectious clinical waste stream.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Plaster and similar wastes, for example from dentistry and fracture clinics | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Waste medicines

A medicine is considered to be cytotoxic or cytostatic for waste classification purposes if it’s any of the following:

acutely toxic

carcinogenic

mutagenic

toxic for reproduction

Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Hazardous | 18-01-08* | 18-02-07*

Other medicines | Non-hazardous | 18-01-09 | 18-02-08

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Household medicines returned to a community pharmacy should be coded as follows:

cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines: 20-01-31*

other medicines: 20-01-32

Sharps and related waste

Cytotoxic and cytostatic contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-08* and 18-01-03* | 18-02-07* and 18-02-02*

Other medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-09 | 18-02-02* and 18-02-08

Non-medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Anatomical waste

Not chemically preserved - infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Not chemically preserved - non-infectious | Non-hazardous | 18-01-02 | 18-02-03

Chemically preserved - infectious or non-infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-06* and 18-01-02*/03 | 18-02-05* and 18-02-02*/03

Bagged clinical waste

You must only put waste items that are both infectious and chemically contaminated (for example some samples and diagnostic kits) in the yellow bag waste stream.

Infectious clinical waste (no chemicals or pharmaceuticals) - orange bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Infectious clinical waste - yellow bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-06* | 18-02-02* and 18-02-05*

Laboratory chemicals and photochemicals

You must classify photochemicals and film, including X-ray related products, with codes from chapter 9 of the waste code section in the technical guidance on waste.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Other chemicals - hazardous | Hazardous | 18-01-06* | 18-02-05*

Other chemicals - non-hazardous | Non-hazardous | 18-01-07 | 18-02-06

Classify different types of waste

Overview

You must identify and classify your waste before you send it for recycling or disposal. This makes sure you or anyone handling your waste deals with it properly.

Filling in waste transfer or consignment notes

You must describe your waste in the paperwork you give your waste contractor. This must include:

whether it’s hazardous or POPs waste

the type of premises or business where the waste was produced

the name of the substance or substances

the process that produced the waste

a chemical and physical analysis of the waste and its components

any special problems, requirements or knowledge related to the waste

If you cannot find a code for your waste

Check the technical guidance on waste, it includes more information about waste classification and assessing waste.

You must not use landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results for waste classification purposes.

How to find out if your waste is hazardous or POPs waste

Some waste items have more than one classification, depending on the possible mix of substances in them.

In these cases you must work out exactly what is in your waste, and how much of it is hazardous or POPs.

Check the manufacturers’ product safety data sheets for this information or carry out an assessment.

Many products include orange and black danger symbols or red and white hazard pictograms to indicate they’re hazardous.

Some products (for example cosmetics and medicines) are not normally labelled with hazard symbols - check the product’s safety data sheet.

Read the technical guidance on waste and guidance on dealing with POPs waste) for more information on checking for hazardous substances and POPs.

Mixing waste

It’s illegal to mix hazardous or POPs waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste.

Check how to mix and store hazardous waste.

You will usually need more than one code if you store more than one type of non-hazardous waste in your container.

If you need more help

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you’re not sure whether it’s hazardous or not.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

Construction and demolition waste

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Insulation and asbestos materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Insulation containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-01*

Other insulation containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-06-03*

Other insulation materials | Non-hazardous | 17-06-04

Other construction materials containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-05*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

| Waste status | Waste code

Concrete | Non-hazardous | 17-01-01

Bricks | Non-hazardous | 17-01-02

Tiles and ceramics | Non-hazardous | 17-01-03

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-01-06*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in mixtures, containing no hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 17-01-07

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the packaging section for related codes.

| Waste status | Waste code

Wood - untreated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-01

Glass - uncontaminated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-02

Plastic - excludes packaging waste | Non-hazardous | 17-02-03

Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-02-04*

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

| Waste status | Waste code

Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar | Hazardous | 17-03-01*

Other bituminous mixtures | Non-hazardous | 17-03-02

Coal tar and tarred products | Hazardous | 17-03-03*

Metallic waste, including cable

| Waste status | Waste code

Copper, bronze and brass | Non-hazardous | 17-04-01

Aluminium | Non-hazardous | 17-04-02

Lead | Non-hazardous | 17-04-03

Iron and steel | Non-hazardous | 17-04-05

Tin | Non-hazardous | 17-04-06

Mixed metals | Non-hazardous | 17-04-07

Metals containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-09*

Cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-10*

Other cables | Non-hazardous | 17-04-11

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

| Waste status | Waste code

Soil and stones containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-03*

Other soil and stones | Non-hazardous | 17-05-04

Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-05*

Other dredging spoil | Non-hazardous | 17-05-06

Gypsum

| Waste status | Waste code

Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-08-01*

Other gypsum materials | Non-hazardous | 17-08-02

Cement

| Waste status | Waste code

Un-used or un-set cement | Hazardous | 17-09-03*

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-01-11* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-01-12 (20-01-28)

Paint or varnish remover | Hazardous | 08-01-21*

Paint cans | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-04-09* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-04-10 (20-01-28)

Adhesive or sealant containers | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Packaging waste and recyclables

The tables below list waste codes for common packaging and domestic type recyclable wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.

| Waste status | Plastic | Metal | Paper and cardboard | Glass | Textiles

Clean packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging | Non-hazardous | 20-01-39 | 20-01-40 | 20-01-01 | 20-01-02 | 20-01-11

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Electronic and electrical equipment

These tables list common waste codes for batteries, lightbulbs and electrical devices.

Hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste electricals

WEEE often has components that contain hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These could include:

printed circuit boards

plastic casings, cables and other components

insulation foam

cooling agents

flame retardants

activated glass and screen phosphors

cathode ray tubes

capacitors

Ni-Cd batteries

If the levels of hazardous substances or POPs are over a certain amount the item will be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

If your WEEE is POPs waste you cannot reuse or recycle it.

There are special rules about:

where you can export WEEE that contains POPs

dealing with hazardous waste

disposing of POPs waste

If you’ve assessed your waste and are still not sure if an item is hazardous or POPs waste, you should treat it as hazardous and POPs waste as a precaution.

Read technical guidance on how to assess waste and identifying POPs waste.

Televisions, computer monitors and other display devices

Components such as screens, circuit boards, batteries or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Cathode ray tube (CRT), flatscreen (plasma or LCD) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Fridges, freezers, chillers and air-conditioning units

Containing ozone-depleting substances as foam blowing agents or coolants | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-23* | 16-02-11*

Other | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

Large domestic appliances (LDA): white goods (washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and cookers)

Large domestic appliances: white goods | Non-hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Small mixed WEEE

These are small household-type electrical items collected from homes or businesses.

Small mixed WEEE containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Other household-type electricals from homes or businesses

These are waste electrical items collected from households or businesses that are not already listed and are separated from small mixed WEEE.

Cat 1: Large household appliances (other than LDA white goods) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 2: Small household appliances containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 3: IT and telecommunication equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 4: Consumer equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 5: Lighting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 6: Electronic and electrical tools containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 7: Toys, leisure and sporting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Lightbulbs and lamps

Components such as circuit boards, plastic parts or casings may contain POPs and hazardous chemicals, such as flame retardants.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Fluorescent tubes and low energy - excluding LED and other gas-discharge lamps | Hazardous | 20-01-21* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent not containing hazardous components | Non-hazardous | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Batteries

Lead acid (vehicle) | Hazardous | 16-06-01* | 16-06-01*

Lead acid (other) | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-01*

Nickel-Cadmium | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-02*

Mercury containing | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-03*

Alkaline | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-04

Other - Lithium or Lithium ion | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-05

Mixed household-type batteries - separately collected | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | Not allowed

Other WEEE, parts and components

If your waste is not listed, you can find more classes in the guidance on classifying waste from dismantling or treating WEEE.

Vehicle and oily wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common wastes produced by vehicle maintenance and dismantling activities.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Vehicle fluids and other oils

You must not mix any of the following fluids:

mineral oils

cooking oils

halogenated oils

brake fluids

anti-freeze

washer fluids

oily waters

Vehicle and other oils

Hydraulic oils | Hazardous | 13-01-01* | 13-01-09* | 13-01-10* | 13-01-11* | 13-01-12* | 13-01-13*

Engine, gear and lubricating oils | Hazardous | Not applicable | 13-02-04* | 13-02-05* | 13-02-06* | 13-02-07* | 13-02-08*

Insulating and transmission oils | Hazardous | 13-03-01* | 13-03-06* | 13-03-07* | 13-03-08* | 13-03-09* | 13-03-10*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Interceptor wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Interceptor sludges | Hazardous | 13-05-03*

Oily water from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-07*

Solid waste from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-01*

Fuels, brake and anti-freeze fluids

| Waste status | Waste code

Fuel oil and diesel | Hazardous | 13-07-01*

Petrol | Hazardous | 13-07-02*

Other fuels, including mixed fuels from mis-fuelling | Hazardous | 13-07-03*

Brake fluids | Hazardous | 16-01-13*

Antifreeze containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 16-01-14*

Antifreeze not containing hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 16-01-15

Vehicles and their components

The waste code for end-of-life (no longer usable) tyres is 16-01-03.

Vehicles

| Waste status | Waste code

End-of-life vehicles - un-depolluted | Hazardous | 16-01-04*

End-of-life vehicles - depolluted | Non-hazardous | 16-01-06

Components, including oil filters

| Waste status | Waste code

Oil filters | Hazardous | 16-01-07*

Components containing mercury | Hazardous | 16-01-08*

Components containing PCBs | Hazardous | 16-01-09*

Air bags

The waste code for explosive components (for example air bags) is 16-01-10*.

Brake pads

| Waste status | Waste code

Brake pads containing asbestos | Hazardous | 16-01-11*

Other brake pads | Non-hazardous | 16-01-12

Car batteries

The waste code for lead acid car batteries is 16-06-01*.

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Catalytic converters

The waste code for catalytic converters is 16 01 21*, or 16 01 22 for those that do not contain refractory ceramic fibres (RCF).

End-of-life vehicle wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-17

Non-ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-18

Plastic | Non-hazardous | 16-01-19

Vehicle glass | Non-hazardous | 16-01-20

Contaminated materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances | Hazardous | 15-02-02*

Clothing, absorbents or wiping clothes contaminated with non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-02-03

Healthcare and related wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common healthcare and related wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Additional guidance

Check the guide to the safe management of healthcare waste for additional information about classifying clinical and healthcare waste.

Offensive waste

| Examples | Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Municipal offensive waste | Hygiene waste and sanitary protection like nappies and incontinence pads | Non-hazardous | 20-01-99 | 20-01-99

You must segregate healthcare offensive waste from both clinical and mixed municipal wastes.

If you’ve produced less, you can dispose of your municipal offensive waste in your mixed municipal waste (‘black bag’). Use classification code 20-03-01.

Plaster and similar wastes

Most plaster waste is non-infectious.

It should be kept separately from any plaster waste that’s infectious, which must be placed in the bagged infectious clinical waste stream.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Plaster and similar wastes, for example from dentistry and fracture clinics | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Waste medicines

A medicine is considered to be cytotoxic or cytostatic for waste classification purposes if it’s any of the following:

acutely toxic

carcinogenic

mutagenic

toxic for reproduction

Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Hazardous | 18-01-08* | 18-02-07*

Other medicines | Non-hazardous | 18-01-09 | 18-02-08

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Household medicines returned to a community pharmacy should be coded as follows:

cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines: 20-01-31*

other medicines: 20-01-32

Sharps and related waste

Cytotoxic and cytostatic contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-08* and 18-01-03* | 18-02-07* and 18-02-02*

Other medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-09 | 18-02-02* and 18-02-08

Non-medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Anatomical waste

Not chemically preserved - infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Not chemically preserved - non-infectious | Non-hazardous | 18-01-02 | 18-02-03

Chemically preserved - infectious or non-infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-06* and 18-01-02*/03 | 18-02-05* and 18-02-02*/03

Bagged clinical waste

You must only put waste items that are both infectious and chemically contaminated (for example some samples and diagnostic kits) in the yellow bag waste stream.

Infectious clinical waste (no chemicals or pharmaceuticals) - orange bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Infectious clinical waste - yellow bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-06* | 18-02-02* and 18-02-05*

Laboratory chemicals and photochemicals

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Other chemicals - hazardous | Hazardous | 18-01-06* | 18-02-05*

Other chemicals - non-hazardous | Non-hazardous | 18-01-07 | 18-02-06

Classify different types of waste

Overview

You must identify and classify your waste before you send it for recycling or disposal. This makes sure you or anyone handling your waste deals with it properly.

There are special rules for dealing with hazardous waste or disposing of waste with a high level of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), (known as ‘POPs waste’).

Filling in waste transfer or consignment notes

You must describe your waste in the paperwork you give your waste contractor. This must include:

whether it’s hazardous or POPs waste

the type of premises or business where the waste was produced

the name of the substance or substances

the process that produced the waste

a chemical and physical analysis of the waste and its components

any special problems, requirements or knowledge related to the waste

If you cannot find a code for your waste

Check the technical guidance on waste, it includes more information about waste classification and assessing waste.

You must not use landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results for waste classification purposes.

How to find out if your waste is hazardous or POPs waste

Some waste items have more than one classification, depending on the possible mix of substances in them.

In these cases you must work out exactly what is in your waste, and how much of it is hazardous or POPs.

Check the manufacturers’ product safety data sheets for this information or carry out an assessment.

Many products include orange and black danger symbols or red and white hazard pictograms to indicate they’re hazardous.

Some products (for example cosmetics and medicines) are not normally labelled with hazard symbols - check the product’s safety data sheet.

Read the technical guidance on waste and guidance on dealing with POPs waste) for more information on checking for hazardous substances and POPs.

Mixing waste

It’s illegal to mix hazardous or POPs waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste.

Check how to mix and store hazardous waste.

You will usually need more than one code if you store more than one type of non-hazardous waste in your container.

If you need more help

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you’re not sure whether it’s hazardous or not.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

Construction and demolition waste

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Insulation and asbestos materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Insulation containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-01*

Other insulation containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-06-03*

Other insulation materials | Non-hazardous | 17-06-04

Other construction materials containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-05*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

| Waste status | Waste code

Concrete | Non-hazardous | 17-01-01

Bricks | Non-hazardous | 17-01-02

Tiles and ceramics | Non-hazardous | 17-01-03

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-01-06*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in mixtures, containing no hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 17-01-07

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the packaging section for related codes.

| Waste status | Waste code

Wood - untreated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-01

Glass - uncontaminated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-02

Plastic - excludes packaging waste | Non-hazardous | 17-02-03

Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-02-04*

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

| Waste status | Waste code

Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar | Hazardous | 17-03-01*

Other bituminous mixtures | Non-hazardous | 17-03-02

Coal tar and tarred products | Hazardous | 17-03-03*

Metallic waste, including cable

| Waste status | Waste code

Copper, bronze and brass | Non-hazardous | 17-04-01

Aluminium | Non-hazardous | 17-04-02

Lead | Non-hazardous | 17-04-03

Iron and steel | Non-hazardous | 17-04-05

Tin | Non-hazardous | 17-04-06

Mixed metals | Non-hazardous | 17-04-07

Metals containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-09*

Cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-10*

Other cables | Non-hazardous | 17-04-11

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

| Waste status | Waste code

Soil and stones containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-03*

Other soil and stones | Non-hazardous | 17-05-04

Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-05*

Other dredging spoil | Non-hazardous | 17-05-06

Gypsum

| Waste status | Waste code

Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-08-01*

Other gypsum materials | Non-hazardous | 17-08-02

Cement

| Waste status | Waste code

Un-used or un-set cement | Hazardous | 17-09-03*

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-01-11* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-01-12 (20-01-28)

Paint or varnish remover | Hazardous | 08-01-21*

Paint cans | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-04-09* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-04-10 (20-01-28)

Adhesive or sealant containers | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Packaging waste and recyclables

The tables below list waste codes for common packaging and domestic type recyclable wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.

| Waste status | Plastic | Metal | Paper and cardboard | Glass | Textiles

Clean packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging | Non-hazardous | 20-01-39 | 20-01-40 | 20-01-01 | 20-01-02 | 20-01-11

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Electronic and electrical equipment

These tables list common waste codes for batteries, lightbulbs and electrical devices.

Hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste electricals

WEEE often has components that contain hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These could include:

printed circuit boards

plastic casings, cables and other components

insulation foam

cooling agents

flame retardants

activated glass and screen phosphors

cathode ray tubes

capacitors

Ni-Cd batteries

If the levels of hazardous substances or POPs are over a certain amount the item will be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

If your WEEE is POPs waste you cannot reuse or recycle it.

There are special rules about:

where you can export WEEE that contains POPs

dealing with hazardous waste

disposing of POPs waste

If you’ve assessed your waste and are still not sure if an item is hazardous or POPs waste, you should treat it as hazardous and POPs waste as a precaution.

Read technical guidance on how to assess waste and identifying POPs waste.

Televisions, computer monitors and other display devices

Components such as screens, circuit boards, batteries or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Cathode ray tube (CRT), flatscreen (plasma or LCD) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Fridges, freezers, chillers and air-conditioning units

Containing ozone-depleting substances as foam blowing agents or coolants | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-23* | 16-02-11*

Other | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

Large domestic appliances (LDA): white goods (washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and cookers)

Large domestic appliances: white goods | Non-hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Small mixed WEEE

These are small household-type electrical items collected from homes or businesses.

Small mixed WEEE containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Other household-type electricals from homes or businesses

These are waste electrical items collected from households or businesses that are not already listed and are separated from small mixed WEEE.

Cat 1: Large household appliances (other than LDA white goods) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 2: Small household appliances containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 3: IT and telecommunication equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 4: Consumer equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 5: Lighting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 6: Electronic and electrical tools containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 7: Toys, leisure and sporting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Lightbulbs and lamps

Components such as circuit boards, plastic parts or casings may contain POPs and hazardous chemicals, such as flame retardants.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Fluorescent tubes and low energy - excluding LED and other gas-discharge lamps | Hazardous | 20-01-21* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent not containing hazardous components | Non-hazardous | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Batteries

Lead acid (vehicle) | Hazardous | 16-06-01* | 16-06-01*

Lead acid (other) | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-01*

Nickel-Cadmium | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-02*

Mercury containing | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-03*

Alkaline | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-04

Other - Lithium or Lithium ion | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-05

Mixed household-type batteries - separately collected | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | Not allowed

Other WEEE, parts and components

If your waste is not listed, you can find more classes in the guidance on classifying waste from dismantling or treating WEEE.

Vehicle and oily wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common wastes produced by vehicle maintenance and dismantling activities.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Vehicle fluids and other oils

You must not mix any of the following fluids:

mineral oils

cooking oils

halogenated oils

brake fluids

anti-freeze

washer fluids

oily waters

Vehicle and other oils

Hydraulic oils | Hazardous | 13-01-01* | 13-01-09* | 13-01-10* | 13-01-11* | 13-01-12* | 13-01-13*

Engine, gear and lubricating oils | Hazardous | Not applicable | 13-02-04* | 13-02-05* | 13-02-06* | 13-02-07* | 13-02-08*

Insulating and transmission oils | Hazardous | 13-03-01* | 13-03-06* | 13-03-07* | 13-03-08* | 13-03-09* | 13-03-10*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Interceptor wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Interceptor sludges | Hazardous | 13-05-03*

Oily water from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-07*

Solid waste from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-01*

Fuels, brake and anti-freeze fluids

| Waste status | Waste code

Fuel oil and diesel | Hazardous | 13-07-01*

Petrol | Hazardous | 13-07-02*

Other fuels, including mixed fuels from mis-fuelling | Hazardous | 13-07-03*

Brake fluids | Hazardous | 16-01-13*

Antifreeze containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 16-01-14*

Antifreeze not containing hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 16-01-15

Vehicles and their components

The waste code for end-of-life (no longer usable) tyres is 16-01-03.

Vehicles

| Waste status | Waste code

End-of-life vehicles - un-depolluted | Hazardous | 16-01-04*

End-of-life vehicles - depolluted | Non-hazardous | 16-01-06

Components, including oil filters

| Waste status | Waste code

Oil filters | Hazardous | 16-01-07*

Components containing mercury | Hazardous | 16-01-08*

Components containing PCBs | Hazardous | 16-01-09*

Air bags

The waste code for explosive components (for example air bags) is 16-01-10*.

Brake pads

| Waste status | Waste code

Brake pads containing asbestos | Hazardous | 16-01-11*

Other brake pads | Non-hazardous | 16-01-12

Car batteries

The waste code for lead acid car batteries is 16-06-01*.

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Catalytic converters

The waste code for catalytic converters is 16 01 21*, or 16 01 22 for those that do not contain refractory ceramic fibres (RCF).

End-of-life vehicle wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-17

Non-ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-18

Plastic | Non-hazardous | 16-01-19

Vehicle glass | Non-hazardous | 16-01-20

Contaminated materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances | Hazardous | 15-02-02*

Clothing, absorbents or wiping clothes contaminated with non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-02-03

Healthcare and related wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common healthcare and related wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Additional guidance

Check the guide to the safe management of healthcare waste for additional information about classifying clinical and healthcare waste.

Offensive waste

| Examples | Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Municipal offensive waste | Hygiene waste and sanitary protection like nappies and incontinence pads | Non-hazardous | 20-01-99 | 20-01-99

You must segregate healthcare offensive waste from both clinical and mixed municipal wastes.

If you’ve produced less, you can dispose of your municipal offensive waste in your mixed municipal waste (‘black bag’). Use classification code 20-03-01.

Plaster and similar wastes

Most plaster waste is non-infectious.

It should be kept separately from any plaster waste that’s infectious, which must be placed in the bagged infectious clinical waste stream.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Plaster and similar wastes, for example from dentistry and fracture clinics | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Waste medicines

A medicine is considered to be cytotoxic or cytostatic for waste classification purposes if it’s any of the following:

acutely toxic

carcinogenic

mutagenic

toxic for reproduction

Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Hazardous | 18-01-08* | 18-02-07*

Other medicines | Non-hazardous | 18-01-09 | 18-02-08

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Household medicines returned to a community pharmacy should be coded as follows:

cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines: 20-01-31*

other medicines: 20-01-32

Sharps and related waste

Cytotoxic and cytostatic contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-08* and 18-01-03* | 18-02-07* and 18-02-02*

Other medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-09 | 18-02-02* and 18-02-08

Non-medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Anatomical waste

Not chemically preserved - infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Not chemically preserved - non-infectious | Non-hazardous | 18-01-02 | 18-02-03

Chemically preserved - infectious or non-infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-06* and 18-01-02*/03 | 18-02-05* and 18-02-02*/03

Bagged clinical waste

You must only put waste items that are both infectious and chemically contaminated (for example some samples and diagnostic kits) in the yellow bag waste stream.

Infectious clinical waste (no chemicals or pharmaceuticals) - orange bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Infectious clinical waste - yellow bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-06* | 18-02-02* and 18-02-05*

Laboratory chemicals and photochemicals

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Other chemicals - hazardous | Hazardous | 18-01-06* | 18-02-05*

Other chemicals - non-hazardous | Non-hazardous | 18-01-07 | 18-02-06

Classify different types of waste

Overview

You must identify and classify your waste before you send it for recycling or disposal. This makes sure you or anyone handling your waste deals with it properly.

There are special rules for dealing with hazardous waste or disposing of waste with a high level of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), (known as ‘POPs waste’).

Filling in waste transfer or consignment notes

You must describe your waste in the paperwork you give your waste contractor. This must include:

whether it’s hazardous or POPs waste

the type of premises or business where the waste was produced

the name of the substance or substances

the process that produced the waste

a chemical and physical analysis of the waste and its components

any special problems, requirements or knowledge related to the waste

If you cannot find a code for your waste

Check the technical guidance on waste, it includes more information about waste classification and assessing waste.

You must not use landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC) results for waste classification purposes.

How to find out if your waste is hazardous or POPs waste

Some waste items have more than one classification, depending on the possible mix of substances in them.

In these cases you must work out exactly what is in your waste, and how much of it is hazardous or POPs.

Check the manufacturers’ product safety data sheets for this information or carry out an assessment.

Many products include orange and black danger symbols or red and white hazard pictograms to indicate they’re hazardous.

Some products (for example cosmetics and medicines) are not normally labelled with hazard symbols - check the product’s safety data sheet.

Read the technical guidance on waste and guidance on dealing with POPs waste) for more information on checking for hazardous substances and POPs.

Mixing waste

It’s illegal to mix hazardous or POPs waste with either non-hazardous or another hazardous waste.

Check how to mix and store hazardous waste.

You will usually need more than one code if you store more than one type of non-hazardous waste in your container.

If you need more help

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you’re not sure whether it’s hazardous or not.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

Construction and demolition waste

The tables below list waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Insulation and asbestos materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Insulation containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-01*

Other insulation containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-06-03*

Other insulation materials | Non-hazardous | 17-06-04

Other construction materials containing asbestos | Hazardous | 17-06-05*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials - refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

| Waste status | Waste code

Concrete | Non-hazardous | 17-01-01

Bricks | Non-hazardous | 17-01-02

Tiles and ceramics | Non-hazardous | 17-01-03

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-01-06*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in mixtures, containing no hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 17-01-07

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables - refer to the packaging section for related codes.

| Waste status | Waste code

Wood - untreated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-01

Glass - uncontaminated | Non-hazardous | 17-02-02

Plastic - excludes packaging waste | Non-hazardous | 17-02-03

Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-02-04*

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

| Waste status | Waste code

Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar | Hazardous | 17-03-01*

Other bituminous mixtures | Non-hazardous | 17-03-02

Coal tar and tarred products | Hazardous | 17-03-03*

Metallic waste, including cable

| Waste status | Waste code

Copper, bronze and brass | Non-hazardous | 17-04-01

Aluminium | Non-hazardous | 17-04-02

Lead | Non-hazardous | 17-04-03

Iron and steel | Non-hazardous | 17-04-05

Tin | Non-hazardous | 17-04-06

Mixed metals | Non-hazardous | 17-04-07

Metals containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-09*

Cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-04-10*

Other cables | Non-hazardous | 17-04-11

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

| Waste status | Waste code

Soil and stones containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-03*

Other soil and stones | Non-hazardous | 17-05-04

Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-05-05*

Other dredging spoil | Non-hazardous | 17-05-06

Gypsum

| Waste status | Waste code

Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 17-08-01*

Other gypsum materials | Non-hazardous | 17-08-02

Cement

| Waste status | Waste code

Un-used or un-set cement | Hazardous | 17-09-03*

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-01-11* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-01-12 (20-01-28)

Paint or varnish remover | Hazardous | 08-01-21*

Paint cans | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

| Waste status | Waste code

Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Hazardous | 08-04-09* (20-01-27*)

Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 08-04-10 (20-01-28)

Adhesive or sealant containers | Hazardous | Refer to packaging waste and recyclables section

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Packaging waste and recyclables

The tables below list waste codes for common packaging and domestic type recyclable wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.

| Waste status | Plastic | Metal | Paper and cardboard | Glass | Textiles

Clean packaging | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging | Non-hazardous | 20-01-39 | 20-01-40 | 20-01-01 | 20-01-02 | 20-01-11

Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-01-02 | 15-01-04 | 15-01-01 | 15-01-07 | 15-01-09

Electronic and electrical equipment

These tables list common waste codes for batteries, lightbulbs and electrical devices.

Hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste electricals

WEEE often has components that contain hazardous substances or persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These could include:

printed circuit boards

plastic casings, cables and other components

insulation foam

cooling agents

flame retardants

activated glass and screen phosphors

cathode ray tubes

capacitors

Ni-Cd batteries

If the levels of hazardous substances or POPs are over a certain amount the item will be classified as hazardous or POPs waste.

If your WEEE is POPs waste you cannot reuse or recycle it.

There are special rules about:

where you can export WEEE that contains POPs

dealing with hazardous waste

disposing of POPs waste

If you’ve assessed your waste and are still not sure if an item is hazardous or POPs waste, you should treat it as hazardous and POPs waste as a precaution.

Read technical guidance on how to assess waste and identifying POPs waste.

Televisions, computer monitors and other display devices

Components such as screens, circuit boards, batteries or any plastic parts may contain hazardous chemicals or POPs.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Cathode ray tube (CRT), flatscreen (plasma or LCD) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Fridges, freezers, chillers and air-conditioning units

Containing ozone-depleting substances as foam blowing agents or coolants | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-23* | 16-02-11*

Other | Hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

Large domestic appliances (LDA): white goods (washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and cookers)

Large domestic appliances: white goods | Non-hazardous, non-POPs | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Small mixed WEEE

These are small household-type electrical items collected from homes or businesses.

Small mixed WEEE containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Other household-type electricals from homes or businesses

These are waste electrical items collected from households or businesses that are not already listed and are separated from small mixed WEEE.

Cat 1: Large household appliances (other than LDA white goods) containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 2: Small household appliances containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 3: IT and telecommunication equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 4: Consumer equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 5: Lighting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 6: Electronic and electrical tools containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

Cat 7: Toys, leisure and sporting equipment containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* and 20 01 36 | n/a

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Lightbulbs and lamps

Components such as circuit boards, plastic parts or casings may contain POPs and hazardous chemicals, such as flame retardants.

| Waste status | Household | Industrial or commercial

Fluorescent tubes and low energy - excluding LED and other gas-discharge lamps | Hazardous | 20-01-21* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent containing POPs | Hazardous and POPs | 20-01-35* | 16-02-13*

LED, halogen and incandescent not containing hazardous components | Non-hazardous | 20-01-36 | 16-02-14

Batteries

Lead acid (vehicle) | Hazardous | 16-06-01* | 16-06-01*

Lead acid (other) | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-01*

Nickel-Cadmium | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-02*

Mercury containing | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | 16-06-03*

Alkaline | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-04

Other - Lithium or Lithium ion | Non-hazardous | 20-01-34 | 16-06-05

Mixed household-type batteries - separately collected | Hazardous | 20-01-33* | Not allowed

Other WEEE, parts and components

If your waste is not listed, you can find more classes in the guidance on classifying waste from dismantling or treating WEEE.

Vehicle and oily wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common wastes produced by vehicle maintenance and dismantling activities.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Vehicle fluids and other oils

You must not mix any of the following fluids:

mineral oils

cooking oils

halogenated oils

brake fluids

anti-freeze

washer fluids

oily waters

Vehicle and other oils

Hydraulic oils | Hazardous | 13-01-01* | 13-01-09* | 13-01-10* | 13-01-11* | 13-01-12* | 13-01-13*

Engine, gear and lubricating oils | Hazardous | Not applicable | 13-02-04* | 13-02-05* | 13-02-06* | 13-02-07* | 13-02-08*

Insulating and transmission oils | Hazardous | 13-03-01* | 13-03-06* | 13-03-07* | 13-03-08* | 13-03-09* | 13-03-10*

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Interceptor wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Interceptor sludges | Hazardous | 13-05-03*

Oily water from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-07*

Solid waste from interceptor | Hazardous | 13-05-01*

Fuels, brake and anti-freeze fluids

| Waste status | Waste code

Fuel oil and diesel | Hazardous | 13-07-01*

Petrol | Hazardous | 13-07-02*

Other fuels, including mixed fuels from mis-fuelling | Hazardous | 13-07-03*

Brake fluids | Hazardous | 16-01-13*

Antifreeze containing hazardous substances | Hazardous | 16-01-14*

Antifreeze not containing hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 16-01-15

Vehicles and their components

The waste code for end-of-life (no longer usable) tyres is 16-01-03.

Vehicles

| Waste status | Waste code

End-of-life vehicles - un-depolluted | Hazardous | 16-01-04*

End-of-life vehicles - depolluted | Non-hazardous | 16-01-06

Components, including oil filters

| Waste status | Waste code

Oil filters | Hazardous | 16-01-07*

Components containing mercury | Hazardous | 16-01-08*

Components containing PCBs | Hazardous | 16-01-09*

Air bags

The waste code for explosive components (for example air bags) is 16-01-10*.

Brake pads

| Waste status | Waste code

Brake pads containing asbestos | Hazardous | 16-01-11*

Other brake pads | Non-hazardous | 16-01-12

Car batteries

The waste code for lead acid car batteries is 16-06-01*.

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Catalytic converters

The waste code for catalytic converters is 16 01 21*, or 16 01 22 for those that do not contain refractory ceramic fibres (RCF).

End-of-life vehicle wastes

| Waste status | Waste code

Ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-17

Non-ferrous metal | Non-hazardous | 16-01-18

Plastic | Non-hazardous | 16-01-19

Vehicle glass | Non-hazardous | 16-01-20

Contaminated materials

| Waste status | Waste code

Clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances | Hazardous | 15-02-02*

Clothing, absorbents or wiping clothes contaminated with non-hazardous substances | Non-hazardous | 15-02-03

Healthcare and related wastes

The tables below list waste codes for common healthcare and related wastes.

You can find additional codes for other waste and advice on how to apply these codes in the technical guidance on waste.

Additional guidance

Check the guide to the safe management of healthcare waste for additional information about classifying clinical and healthcare waste.

Offensive waste

| Examples | Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Municipal offensive waste | Hygiene waste and sanitary protection like nappies and incontinence pads | Non-hazardous | 20-01-99 | 20-01-99

You must segregate healthcare offensive waste from both clinical and mixed municipal wastes.

If you’ve produced less, you can dispose of your municipal offensive waste in your mixed municipal waste (‘black bag’). Use classification code 20-03-01.

Plaster and similar wastes

Most plaster waste is non-infectious.

It should be kept separately from any plaster waste that’s infectious, which must be placed in the bagged infectious clinical waste stream.

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Plaster and similar wastes, for example from dentistry and fracture clinics | Non-hazardous | 18-01-04 | 18-02-03

Waste medicines

A medicine is considered to be cytotoxic or cytostatic for waste classification purposes if it’s any of the following:

acutely toxic

carcinogenic

mutagenic

toxic for reproduction

Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Hazardous | 18-01-08* | 18-02-07*

Other medicines | Non-hazardous | 18-01-09 | 18-02-08

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Household medicines returned to a community pharmacy should be coded as follows:

cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines: 20-01-31*

other medicines: 20-01-32

Sharps and related waste

Cytotoxic and cytostatic contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-08* and 18-01-03* | 18-02-07* and 18-02-02*

Other medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-09 | 18-02-02* and 18-02-08

Non-medicinally contaminated | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Anatomical waste

Not chemically preserved - infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Not chemically preserved - non-infectious | Non-hazardous | 18-01-02 | 18-02-03

Chemically preserved - infectious or non-infectious | Hazardous | 18-01-06* and 18-01-02*/03 | 18-02-05* and 18-02-02*/03

Bagged clinical waste

You must only put waste items that are both infectious and chemically contaminated (for example some samples and diagnostic kits) in the yellow bag waste stream.

Infectious clinical waste (no chemicals or pharmaceuticals) - orange bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* | 18-02-02*

Infectious clinical waste - yellow bag | Hazardous | 18-01-03* and 18-01-06* | 18-02-02* and 18-02-05*

Laboratory chemicals and photochemicals

| Waste status | Human healthcare | Animal healthcare

Other chemicals - hazardous | Hazardous | 18-01-06* | 18-02-05*

Other chemicals - non-hazardous | Non-hazardous | 18-01-07 | 18-02-06