Hazardous Waste is defined within Art 3(2) of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) as waste which displays one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Annex III (of the WFD). Hazardous Waste is listed in the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) as a six digit code with an asterisk (*) e.g. 07 04 01*.

Overview

Hazardous Waste is defined within Art 3(2) of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) as waste which displays one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Annex III (of the WFD). Hazardous Waste is listed in the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) as a six digit code with an asterisk (*) e.g. 07 04 01*.

Examples of hazardous waste as listed in the EWC are outlined in the table below (with the 2-digit code being the Chapter Title and the 4-digit code being the process giving rise to the waste):

EWC Description STAT Group
13 OIL WASTES AND WASTES OF LIQUID FUELS (except edible oils and those in chapters 05, 12 & 19)
13 01 waste hydraulic oils Used Oils
13 01 01* hydraulic oils, contianing PCBs Waste Containing PCBs
13 01 04* chlorinated emulsions Used Oils
13 01 11* synthetic hydraulic oils Used Oils
When considering the diagram below of hazardous waste waste arisings of 4.6 million tonnes in 2018, 80% of hazardous waste was grouped into the following STAT groupings:
  • Discarded Vehicles 23%
  • Chemical Wastes 21%
  • Discarded Equipment 10%
  • Mineral Waste from Construction and Demolition 10%
  • Used Oils 8%
  • Soils 8%

Hazardous Waste Arisings

The macro-level data reported in July 2020 by DEFRA[1] for tonnage arisings is summarised in the figure below, with a total of 4.6 million tonnes of Hazardous Waste arising in the UK in 2018:

 
Macro Hazardous Waste Arisings 2018

Waste Listing

Hazardous Waste is waste that appears in the List of Waste (England) Regulations 2005, as amended, as a six-digit EWC code with an asterisk e.g.16 06 01*. Wastes are generally hazardous if they contain or exhibit properties which are hazardous to human health or the environment e.g. toxic, corrosive, mutagenic etc (Hazardous Properties).

Treatment

Hazardous Waste requires specialist handling and treatment as defined within the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) and is regulated by the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 in England and Wales and by The Special Waste Regulations 1996 and The Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 in Scotland. The same macro level data reported in July 2020 showed the final treatment tonnage of 2.1 million tonnes was via the following destinations:

 
Macro Waste Final Treatment of Hazardous Waste in UK 2018

References