EWC codes: the 20 you'll actually use
The European Waste Catalogue has 842 codes. For UK haulage, a working crew really only needs about 20. Here's the short list, printable for the cab.
The reality
EWC (European Waste Catalogue) codes stay with us under UK legislation. Picking the wrong code won't just fail your audit — it's a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act if the description is misleading. But you don't need to memorise all 842 codes.
Construction and demolition (Chapter 17)
- 17 01 01 — Concrete
- 17 01 02 — Bricks
- 17 01 07 — Mixtures of concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics
- 17 02 01 — Wood
- 17 02 02 — Glass
- 17 02 03 — Plastic
- 17 03 02 — Bituminous mixtures (asphalt road planings)
- 17 04 05 — Iron and steel
- 17 05 04 — Soil and stones (not 17 05 03)
- 17 09 04 — Mixed construction and demolition waste
Municipal and bulky (Chapter 20)
- 20 01 01 — Paper and cardboard
- 20 01 38 — Wood (non-hazardous)
- 20 01 40 — Metals
- 20 02 01 — Biodegradable (green) waste
- 20 03 01 — Mixed municipal waste
- 20 03 07 — Bulky waste
Packaging (Chapter 15)
- 15 01 01 — Paper and cardboard packaging
- 15 01 02 — Plastic packaging
- 15 01 04 — Metallic packaging
- 15 01 06 — Mixed packaging
Rule of thumb for mixed loads
If more than one material is going on the same load, use 17 09 04 (C&D mix) or 20 03 01 (municipal mix) — the more specific codes on the same ticket only apply to segregated skips.
When to suspect hazardous
Any code ending in an asterisk (e.g. 17 05 03*) is hazardous under UK rules and needs a hazardous waste consignment note, not a standard Transfer Note. If you see asbestos (17 06 05*), lead paint dust (17 09 03*), or tyred oil (13 02 05*), stop and call the yard.