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European waste catalogue meaning
Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert
What does European waste catalogue mean?
The European Waste Catalogue (EWC), also called the List of Waste (LoW), is the standard six‑digit code system used in practice to classify waste by what it is and how it was produced. Lawyers encounter EWC codes on waste transfer notes, hazardous waste consignment notes, environmental permits, duty of care documentation, and transfrontier shipment paperwork.
The EWC is set out in legislation (originating in Commission Decision 2000/532/EC under the Waste Framework Directive). In England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it now forms part of retained law and is applied through national waste regulations and regulator guidance (including UK Technical Guidance WM3). In Ireland, the EU List of Waste continues to apply directly under EU law and EPA guidance. In all four jurisdictions the coding scheme and practical use are materially consistent.
Key features include:
- Six‑digit codes grouped by source/material; hazardous entries are marked with an asterisk.
- “Absolute” hazardous/non‑hazardous entries and “mirror” entries that require chemical assessment of hazardous properties.
Accurate EWC classification underpins legal compliance, affecting waste duty of care, carrier and permit conditions, shipment controls and reporting. Misclassification can lead to enforcement action and invalid documentation.
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View the related Practice Notes about European waste catalogue
PRACTICE NOTES
Post‑Brexit EU–UK environmental law divergence tracker—cross‑sector, including GB–NI and devolved differences
This tracker monitors relevant EU-UK environmental law divergence and will be of interest to environmental lawyers. It captures significant areas where EU and UK rules diverge, though it is not an exhaustive catalogue. Where relevant, it flags internal UK differences (for example, between GB and NI, or between devolved administrations and the EU). The focus is on departures from EU Directives and Regulations; Decisions are not covered. UK consultations on principal divergence themes are noted. EU initiatives to introduce or amend legislation are added once the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached provisional agreement on the texts, enabling an indicative timetable for entry into force and applicability to be given. For a view of all EU environmental initiatives across every legislative stage, refer to our complete suite of EU environmental law trackers listed below. In this Practice Note, ‘divergence’ denotes differences in legislation, guidance or required standards arising after IP completion day (11 pm on 31 December 2020, marking the end of the...
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PRACTICE NOTES
Hazardous waste producer premises registration in Wales (NRW): applications, determinations, renewals, transfers and surrenders
Scope of Practice Note The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/336, repealed Part 5 of the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/894. This change abolished the obligation for any premises in England that generated hazardous waste, or arranged for its removal, to register with the Environment Agency. The duty for Welsh premises to register with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) was not altered by that revocation; accordingly, this Practice Note still focuses on the Welsh registration regime. The List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/895, were revoked by the Hazardous Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2015, SI 2015/1360, from 1 July 2015, which also amended, in England, the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/894. The List of Wastes (Wales) Regulations 2005 were repealed by the Hazardous Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2015, SI 2015/1417. The catalogue of hazardous waste aligns with the European List of Waste, first set by Commission Decision 2000/532/EC, and is periodically updated in light of...
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