EWC chapter 04: leather, fur and textile waste codes explained
Last updated 21 October 2026
In short
EWC chapter 04 covers wastes from the leather and fur industry (04 01) and the textile industry (04 02). It contains 21 codes across 2 subcategories, of which 4 are hazardous. In the leather subcategory only degreasing wastes containing solvents (04 01 03*) are absolute hazardous; chrome-tanning liquors and sludges are not automatically hazardous. In textiles, three mirror-entry pairs determine hazardous status: finishing wastes with organic solvents (04 02 14*), dyestuffs containing dangerous substances (04 02 16*), and effluent sludges containing dangerous substances (04 02 19*).
Tanneries, textile mills, dye houses and laundries produce a range of waste streams — from chrome-containing tanning sludge to solvent-based finishing residues. Classifying these correctly matters: the chromium-containing codes in the leather subcategory are not asterisked, while three mirror pairs in the textile subcategory hinge on whether dangerous substances are present above hazardous thresholds.
What is EWC chapter 04?
The chapter covers the industrial processing end — waste residues from tanning hides, finishing leather goods, dyeing and weaving textiles, and treating fabrics at mills and dye houses. It does not cover mixed clothing or textile waste from households or commercial clearances; those fall under EWC chapter 20 (20 01 10 for clothing, 20 01 11 for textiles).
Subcategory 04 01 covers the leather and fur industry: liming, tanning, degreasing and finishing processes at tanneries and fur dressers. Subcategory 04 02 covers the textile industry: weaving, dyeing, finishing, and on-site effluent treatment at mills and dye houses.
What subcategories and codes does chapter 04 contain?
The table below covers all 21 codes across the two subcategories, showing which are hazardous (marked with *) and what each covers.
| EWC code | Description | Hazardous? |
|---|---|---|
| 04 01 01 | Fleshings and lime split wastes | No |
| 04 01 02 | Liming waste | No |
| 04 01 03* | Degreasing wastes containing solvents without a liquid phase | Yes * |
| 04 01 04 | Tanning liquor containing chromium | No |
| 04 01 05 | Tanning liquor free of chromium | No |
| 04 01 06 | Sludges, in particular from on-site effluent treatment, containing chromium | No |
| 04 01 07 | Sludges, in particular from on-site effluent treatment, free of chromium | No |
| 04 01 08 | Tanned leather waste (including shavings, trimmings, buffing dust) containing chromium | No |
| 04 01 09 | Wastes from dressing and finishing | No |
| 04 01 99 | Wastes not otherwise specified | No |
| 04 02 09 | Wastes from composite materials (impregnated textile, elastomer, plastomer) | No |
| 04 02 10 | Organic matter from natural products (e.g. grease, wax) | No |
| 04 02 14* | Wastes from finishing containing organic solvents | Yes * |
| 04 02 15 | Wastes from finishing other than those mentioned in 04 02 14 | No |
| 04 02 16* | Dyestuffs and pigments containing dangerous substances | Yes * |
| 04 02 17 | Dyestuffs and pigments other than those mentioned in 04 02 16 | No |
| 04 02 19* | Sludges from on-site effluent treatment containing dangerous substances | Yes * |
| 04 02 20 | Sludges from on-site effluent treatment other than those mentioned in 04 02 19 | No |
| 04 02 21 | Wastes from unprocessed textile fibres | No |
| 04 02 22 | Wastes from processed textile fibres | No |
| 04 02 99 | Wastes not otherwise specified | No |
EWC chapter 04 contains 21 codes across 2 subcategories. Four are hazardous: one absolute hazardous entry in 04 01 (degreasing waste 04 01 03*) and three mirror-entry pairs in 04 02 (finishing 04 02 14*/15, dyestuffs 04 02 16*/17, effluent sludge 04 02 19*/20). The chromium-containing codes in 04 01 (04 01 04, 04 01 06, 04 01 08) are not asterisked and require a classification assessment.
Is tanning waste containing chromium automatically hazardous?
Standard chrome tanning uses trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺), which is significantly less toxic than hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺). Tanning liquors and sludges from a well-controlled chrome tanning process do not automatically trigger hazardous waste status. The producer must assess whether the waste exceeds hazardous thresholds before classifying it as non-hazardous.
The paired “free of chromium” codes (04 01 05 and 04 01 07) are not the hazardous mirror entries for 04 01 04 and 04 01 06 — they describe a different process (vegetable or synthetic tanning without chromium). Neither pair is an asterisk mirror pair in the EWC hazardous waste sense; both sides require their own classification assessment.
| EWC code | Description | Hazardous by default? |
|---|---|---|
| 04 01 04 | Tanning liquor containing chromium | No — requires classification assessment |
| 04 01 05 | Tanning liquor free of chromium | No — requires classification assessment |
| 04 01 06 | Sludge from on-site effluent treatment, containing chromium | No — requires classification assessment |
| 04 01 07 | Sludge from on-site effluent treatment, free of chromium | No — requires classification assessment |
| 04 01 08 | Tanned leather waste (shavings, trimmings, buffing dust) containing chromium | No — requires classification assessment |
What is 04 01 03* — degreasing waste from the leather industry?
Some tanneries degrease sheepskins or pig hides using organic solvents. The spent residue — contaminated solid material with no free liquid solvent remaining — is classified as 04 01 03*. It requires a hazardous waste consignment note for every movement, an upper-tier registered carrier, and records retained for at least 3 years. There is no equivalent non-hazardous code for solvent-based degreasing waste.
What are the mirror entry pairs in subcategory 04 02?
For each pair, the producer must assess whether the specific substances present — solvents, reactive dyes, heavy-metal pigments, biocides — meet hazardous waste classification thresholds. The classification cannot be assumed from the code description alone.
| Hazardous code | Non-hazardous code | Key classification question |
|---|---|---|
| 04 02 14* | 04 02 15 | Does the finishing waste contain organic solvents above hazardous thresholds? |
| 04 02 16* | 04 02 17 | Do the dyestuffs or pigments contain dangerous substances above threshold concentrations? |
| 04 02 19* | 04 02 20 | Does the on-site effluent sludge contain dangerous substances above threshold concentrations? |
A dye house using only reactive dyes free of heavy metals or restricted biocides may be able to classify its dyestuff waste as 04 02 17 (non-hazardous) following a proper assessment. A facility using disperse dyes containing azo compounds or heavy-metal complex dyes will likely need to classify the waste as 04 02 16* (hazardous). The classification obligation rests with the waste producer.
What records do chapter 04 hazardous codes require?
The non-hazardous codes require a standard waste transfer note (WTN) retained for at least 2 years.
| Code type | Document required | Carrier tier | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous (04 01 03*, 04 02 14*, 04 02 16*, 04 02 19*) | Hazardous waste consignment note | Upper-tier only | 3 years minimum |
| Non-hazardous (all other chapter 04 codes) | Standard waste transfer note (WTN) | Upper or lower tier | 2 years minimum |
Which chapter covers household and commercial clothing waste?
- Textile mill processing waste (dye sludge, fibre off-cuts) = chapter 04 (04 02 codes)
- Leather tannery residues = chapter 04 (04 01 codes)
- Clothing collected for reuse or recycling = 20 01 10 (clothing)
- Mixed textiles from households or commercial premises = 20 01 11 (textiles)
- Leather or plastic offcuts from shoe or bag manufacture = 04 01 codes if the leather is involved; assess other trim waste against chapter 12 or chapter 07 if it arises from a chemical process
This guide is general information about EWC waste codes, not legal advice. Check your specific classification 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 04?
- EWC chapter 04 covers wastes from the leather and fur industry (subcategory 04 01) and the textile industry (subcategory 04 02). It contains 21 codes across 2 subcategories, of which 4 are hazardous.
- Is chrome tanning waste hazardous?
- Not automatically. Tanning liquor containing chromium (04 01 04) and sludge containing chromium (04 01 06) are not asterisked EWC codes — they are not hazardous by definition. Whether the waste is hazardous depends on a classification assessment against hazardous waste thresholds for the specific chromium compound and concentration. Trivalent chromium (Cr3+), used in standard tanning, does not automatically make tannery waste hazardous.
- What is the hazardous degreasing waste code for the leather industry?
- 04 01 03* — degreasing wastes containing solvents without a liquid phase. This is an absolute hazardous entry with no non-hazardous mirror pair. It arises at tanneries where hides are degreased using organic solvents and the solvent has evaporated or been absorbed into residual solids.
- What EWC codes apply to dyestuff waste from textile manufacturing?
- Dyestuff and pigment wastes from the textile industry use a mirror pair: 04 02 16* (dyestuffs and pigments containing dangerous substances — hazardous) and 04 02 17 (dyestuffs and pigments other than those in 04 02 16 — non-hazardous). Classification depends on whether the specific dyes or pigments used contain substances that meet hazardous waste thresholds.
- What is the difference between 04 02 21 and 04 02 22?
- 04 02 21 covers wastes from unprocessed textile fibres — raw fibre before any treatment, dyeing or finishing. 04 02 22 covers wastes from processed textile fibres — fibre that has been treated, dyed or finished. Both are non-hazardous codes; whether the waste is actually hazardous depends on a classification assessment for any substances applied during processing.
Related guides
This guide is general information from ComplyWaste, not legal advice. Always check the primary sources for your situation.