Classify different types of waste: your legal responsibilities
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.
You must classify the waste your business produces before it is collected, disposed of or recovered.
You must do this to:
- check if the waste is hazardous
- check how the waste must be handled when it is moved
- make sure that only an authorised organisation takes the waste
- fill in waste paperwork correctly
- prevent harm to people and the environment
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) code or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code
- whether it’s hazardous or POPs waste (waste with a high level of persistent organic pollutants)
- 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
Use the correct waste codes
Check the guides on the common waste codes for different waste types.
Or you can check the technical guidance on waste, which 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
- how much of it is hazardous or POPs
Check the manufacturers’ product safety data sheets for this information or check the technical guidance on waste to find out how to do 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. You should always check the product’s safety data sheet where possible.
For more information on checking for hazardous substances and POPs, check the:
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.
General enquiries
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.