Substance Orientated Classification
Substance Orientated Classification or the SOC code is used to consolidate EWC codes into similar codes from different origins/processing activity into a single category. The historical consolidated reporting to the EU was via STAT [1] codes and the SOC codes broadly mirror the STAT coding approach (the substance-orientated aggregation of the waste types defined in the European List of Wastes).
An example as applied to EWCChap18 is as follows:
Chapter 18 - Wastes From Human Or Animal Health Care And/Or Related Research (except kitchen and restaurant wastes not arising from immediate health care) (generally the Healthcare Waste chapter)
18 01 wastes from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans
| EWC | STAT/SOC | EWC Description | STAT/SOC Description |
| 18 01 01 | 5.21 | sharps (except 18 01 03) | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 01 02 | 5.21 | Body parts and organs including blood bags and blood preserves (except 18 01 03) | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 01 03* | 5.11 | wastes whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 01 04 | 5.21 | wastes whose collection and disposal is not subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection(for example dressings, plaster casts, linen, disposable clothing, diapers) | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 01 06* | 2.14 | chemicals consisting of or containing hazardous substances | Chemical Waste |
| 18 01 07 | 2.14 | chemicals other than those mentioned in 18 01 06 | Chemical Waste |
| 18 01 08* | 2.12 | cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Chemical Waste |
| 18 01 09 | 2.12 | medicines other than those mentioned in 18 01 08 | Chemical Waste |
| 18 01 10* | 10.22 | amalgam waste from dental care | Mixed and Undifferentiated Materials |
18 02 wastes from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals
| EWC | STAT/SOC | EWC Description | STAT/SOC Description |
| 18 02 01 | 5.22 | sharps (except 18 02 02) | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 02 02* | 5.12 | wastes whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 02 03 | 5.22 | wastes whose collection and disposal is not subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection | Healthcare and Biological Waste |
| 18 02 05* | 2.14 | chemicals consisting of or containing hazardous substances | Chemical Waste |
| 18 02 06 | 2.14 | chemicals other than those mentioned in 18 02 05 | Chemical Waste |
| 18 02 07* | 2.12 | cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines | Chemical Waste |
| 18 02 08 | 2.12 | medicines other than those mentioned in 18 02 07 | Chemical Waste |