EWC chapter 01: mining, quarrying and drilling waste codes explained
Last updated 26 October 2026
In short
EWC chapter 01 covers wastes from exploration, mining, quarrying, and the physical and chemical treatment of minerals. It contains 23 codes across four subcategories (01 01, 01 03, 01 04, 01 05), of which 6 are hazardous. Most quarry spoil and aggregate process waste is non-hazardous, but acid-generating tailings from sulphide ore processing (01 03 04*) and oil-based drilling muds (01 05 05*) are absolute hazardous codes requiring a consignment note.
Quarries, mines and drilling operations generate some of the highest volumes of waste in the UK, yet the EWC codes that apply are often misread — particularly the chapter 01 versus chapter 17 boundary, and the sharp divide between non-hazardous aggregate process waste and absolute hazardous tailings or oil-based drilling muds. Here is the complete chapter 01 breakdown.
What is EWC chapter 01?
The chapter covers the full extraction and processing chain — from raw overburden and excavated rock (subcategory 01 01), through the by-products of processing metalliferous and non-metalliferous minerals (01 03 and 01 04), to drilling fluids and muds used in exploration and borehole work (01 05). Chapter 01 applies at the extraction site; it does not apply to construction or demolition excavations, which fall under chapter 17.
| Subcategory | Covers | Codes | Hazardous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 01 | Wastes from mineral excavation — overburden, spoil, rock | 2 codes | 0 hazardous |
| 01 03 | Wastes from physical and chemical processing of metalliferous minerals — tailings, dusts, red mud | 7 codes | 3 hazardous (01 03 04*, 01 03 05*, 01 03 07*) |
| 01 04 | Wastes from physical and chemical processing of non-metalliferous minerals — crushed rock, sand, clays, stone sawing | 8 codes | 1 hazardous (01 04 07*) |
| 01 05 | Drilling muds and other drilling wastes — freshwater, oil-based, barite and chloride muds | 6 codes | 2 hazardous (01 05 05*, 01 05 06*) |
Most quarry spoil and aggregate processing by-products in chapter 01 are non-hazardous. The key exceptions are acid-generating tailings from sulphide ore processing (01 03 04*) and oil-containing drilling muds (01 05 05*), both of which are absolute hazardous entries requiring a consignment note and 3-year records.
What EWC codes cover quarrying and excavation waste?
Once extracted material is processed, the by-products shift to subcategory 01 04 for non-metalliferous operations:
| EWC code | Description | Hazardous? | Typical source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 01 01 | Wastes from mineral metalliferous excavation | No | Overburden and spoil from metal ore quarrying or open-cast mining |
| 01 01 02 | Wastes from mineral non-metalliferous excavation | No | Overburden and spoil from limestone, granite, sand, gravel, slate or stone quarrying |
| 01 04 08 | Waste gravel and crushed rocks other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 | No | Off-spec or broken aggregate, fines from crushing and screening |
| 01 04 09 | Waste sand and clays | No | Sand fines, clay oversize, rejected material from screening |
| 01 04 10 | Dusty and powdery wastes other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 | No | Quarry dust and powder from non-hazardous stone crushing |
| 01 04 11 | Wastes from potash and rock salt processing other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 | No | Salt processing by-products from potash or rock salt extraction |
| 01 04 12 | Tailings and other wastes from washing and cleaning of minerals other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 and 01 04 11 | No | Washings, slimes and fines from wet-processing of aggregate or industrial minerals |
| 01 04 13 | Wastes from stone cutting and sawing other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 | No | Sludge and offcuts from cutting, splitting or sawing natural stone |
| 01 04 07* | Wastes containing dangerous substances from physical and chemical processing of non-metalliferous minerals | Yes | Processing by-products where the host mineral or processing reagents contain hazardous substances |
What are the hazardous tailings codes for metalliferous mineral processing?
The key hazard in sulphide ore tailings is acid mine drainage (AMD): when pyrite and other iron sulphide minerals in the tailings are exposed to air and water, they oxidise to form sulphuric acid, which can mobilise heavy metals. This reaction makes 01 03 04* an absolute hazardous entry — it does not require assessment.
| EWC code | Description | Hazardous? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 03 04* | Acid-generating tailings from processing of sulphide ore | Yes — absolute | Pyrite/sulphide-bearing tailings; AMD risk; copper, lead, zinc, gold, nickel operations |
| 01 03 05* | Other tailings containing dangerous substances | Yes — absolute | Tailings from other ore processing where dangerous substances are present |
| 01 03 06 | Tailings other than those mentioned in 01 03 04 and 01 03 05 | No | Tailings from non-sulphide ore processing free of dangerous substances |
| 01 03 07* | Other wastes containing dangerous substances from physical and chemical processing of metalliferous minerals | Yes — absolute | Catch-all for processing by-products not covered by 01 03 04, 05 where dangerous substances are present |
| 01 03 08 | Dusty and powdery wastes other than those mentioned in 01 03 07 | No | Non-hazardous dusts and powders from metalliferous mineral processing |
| 01 03 09 | Red mud from alumina production other than those mentioned in 01 03 07 | No | Bauxite residue; non-hazardous where it does not contain dangerous substances above threshold |
| 01 03 99 | Wastes not otherwise specified | No | Processing by-products from metalliferous mineral operations not fitting another 01 03 code |
Red mud (01 03 09) is the large-volume alkaline residue from the Bayer process used in aluminium/alumina production. Although classified non-hazardous under 01 03 09 in most circumstances, its high pH and potential trace-metal content mean proper containment and disposal are required. Where it can be shown to contain dangerous substances above the relevant threshold concentrations, it should be assessed and classified under 01 03 07* instead.
What EWC code covers drilling mud and drilling wastes?
Drilling fluids are used in borehole drilling for mineral exploration, geothermal wells, water wells, tunnelling and oil and gas. The choice of mud type determines EWC classification:
| EWC code | Mud type | Hazardous? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 05 04 | Freshwater drilling muds and wastes | No | Water-based mud (WBM) used in boreholes, water wells, mineral exploration |
| 01 05 05* | Oil-containing drilling muds and wastes | Yes — absolute | Oil-based mud (OBM) or synthetic-based mud (SBM); also water-based mud contaminated with oil |
| 01 05 06* | Drilling muds and other drilling wastes containing dangerous substances | Yes — absolute | Muds or drill cuttings containing hazardous substances other than oil |
| 01 05 07 | Barite-containing drilling muds and wastes other than those mentioned in 01 05 05 and 01 05 06 | No | Water-based barite-weighted mud where no oil contamination |
| 01 05 08 | Chloride-containing drilling muds and wastes other than those mentioned in 01 05 05 and 01 05 06 | No | Brine or potassium chloride mud systems, non-oil-contaminated |
| 01 05 99 | Wastes not otherwise specified | No | Drill cuttings or mud residues not fitting another 01 05 code |
What is the difference between EWC chapter 01 and chapter 17?
This is one of the most common EWC classification errors in the waste industry:
- A quarry operator removing overburden to reach limestone uses 01 01 02 for that spoil — it is the operational by-product of a mineral extraction business.
- A house builder excavating foundations on a greenfield site uses 17 05 04 (excavated soil and rock) — the site's primary purpose is construction, not mineral extraction.
- If that construction excavation reveals contamination, the correct code shifts to 17 05 03* (soil and rock containing hazardous substances), not any chapter 01 code.
The same logic applies to tunnelling works: a rail or road tunnel contractor generating spoil uses chapter 17 (construction), not chapter 01 (mineral extraction). An exploratory borehole or geotechnical investigation by a mining company would use chapter 01.
What records does chapter 01 waste require?
| Waste type | Document required | Retention period |
|---|---|---|
| Non-hazardous — 01 01 01, 01 01 02, 01 03 06, 01 03 08, 01 03 09, 01 03 99, 01 04 08–13, 01 04 99, 01 05 04, 01 05 07, 01 05 08, 01 05 99 | Waste transfer note | 2 years minimum |
| Hazardous — 01 03 04*, 01 03 05*, 01 03 07*, 01 04 07*, 01 05 05*, 01 05 06* | Hazardous waste consignment note | 3 years minimum |
All 6 hazardous codes in chapter 01 require transport by an upper-tier registered waste carrier. Lower-tier registration is not sufficient for hazardous waste. The waste producer must verify their contractor's upper-tier registration before handing over any asterisked code — transferring hazardous waste to an unregistered carrier is a breach of the duty of care under s.34 Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Producers and holders of large volumes of chapter 01 waste from mining and quarrying operations — particularly tailings dams and red mud impoundments — should also check whether they are subject to environmental permitting conditions that impose site-specific waste management obligations beyond the general duty of care.
This guide is general information about EWC waste codes, not legal advice. Check your specific obligations against the primary sources below and, if in doubt, contact the Environment Agency, SEPA, NRW or NIEA for your nation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is EWC chapter 01?
- EWC chapter 01 covers wastes from exploration, mining, quarrying, and the physical and chemical treatment of minerals. It contains 23 codes across four subcategories: 01 01 (mineral excavation), 01 03 (metalliferous mineral processing), 01 04 (non-metalliferous mineral processing), and 01 05 (drilling muds and wastes). Six codes are hazardous.
- What EWC code do I use for quarry spoil and overburden?
- Overburden and spoil from non-metalliferous quarrying (sand, gravel, limestone, granite, slate, stone) is classified as EWC 01 01 02 — wastes from mineral non-metalliferous excavation. This is a non-hazardous absolute entry. The processed by-products — waste gravel and crushed rocks — fall under 01 04 08, and waste sand and clays under 01 04 09, both non-hazardous.
- Is drilling mud hazardous waste?
- It depends on the mud type. Freshwater (water-based) drilling muds are classified as EWC 01 05 04 and are non-hazardous. Oil-containing drilling muds — oil-based muds and muds with significant oil contamination — are classified as 01 05 05* and are absolute hazardous waste, requiring a hazardous waste consignment note. Muds containing other dangerous substances use 01 05 06*, also hazardous.
- What is the difference between EWC chapter 01 and chapter 17 for excavation waste?
- Chapter 01 applies to waste generated at extraction operations — mines, quarries and drilling sites where the primary purpose is mineral extraction. Chapter 17 applies to construction and demolition sites where excavation is incidental to building work. Soil removed during house building or road construction is chapter 17 waste (17 05 04 or 17 05 03* if contaminated), not chapter 01.
- Are tailings from ore processing hazardous?
- It depends on the ore type. Acid-generating tailings from processing sulphide ore — common in copper, lead, zinc and gold mining — are classified as 01 03 04* and are absolute hazardous waste because pyrite oxidation generates sulphuric acid. Other tailings containing dangerous substances are 01 03 05* (hazardous). Tailings that do not contain dangerous substances are classified as 01 03 06, a non-hazardous absolute entry.
Related guides
This guide is general information from ComplyWaste, not legal advice. Always check the primary sources for your situation.