EWC chapter 07: organic chemical processes waste codes explained
Last updated 23 October 2026
In short
EWC chapter 07 covers wastes from organic chemical processes. It contains 78 codes across seven subcategories (07 01 to 07 07), of which 60 are hazardous. The chapter spans basic organic chemicals, plastics and rubber manufacture, organic dyes, plant protection products, pharmaceuticals, fats and soaps, and fine chemicals. Most codes follow a repeating pattern of solvent, still-bottom and filter-cake entries, all of which are hazardous. The most commonly used non-hazardous code is 07 02 13 (waste plastic from plastics manufacturing).
Plastics factories, pharmaceutical plants, agrochemical producers and detergent manufacturers all generate waste under EWC chapter 07. Nearly four in five codes in this chapter are hazardous, yet one of its most frequently used entries — waste plastic from plastics manufacturing — is not. Here is the complete chapter 07 breakdown, the code pattern that repeats across every subcategory, and the records each waste type requires.
What is EWC chapter 07?
The chapter spans the full range of organic chemistry industry waste: from the solvents and reaction residues of basic chemical synthesis through the processing waste of plastics and rubber manufacture, the dye and pigment industry, pesticide and biocide production, pharmaceutical manufacture, fats and soaps production, and the fine chemicals sector. All seven subcategories follow broadly the same coding structure, which makes navigation easier once you understand the pattern.
Note the chapter's scope boundaries: chapter 07 covers process waste from manufacturing organic chemicals, not the waste generated when using finished chemical products. Waste from applying paints, coatings, adhesives or printing inks belongs in chapter 08. General waste solvents not tied to a specific organic chemistry process are covered in chapter 14.
What subcategories does EWC chapter 07 contain?
| Subcategory | Industry / process covered | Codes | Hazardous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 01 | Basic organic chemicals (MFSU) | 10 | 8 |
| 07 02 | Plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres (MFSU) | 15 | 10 |
| 07 03 | Organic dyes and pigments, except inorganic pigments (MFSU) | 10 | 8 |
| 07 04 | Plant protection products, wood preserving agents and biocides (MFSU) | 11 | 9 |
| 07 05 | Pharmaceuticals (MFSU) | 12 | 9 |
| 07 06 | Fats, grease, soaps, detergents, disinfectants and cosmetics (MFSU) | 10 | 8 |
| 07 07 | Fine chemicals and chemical products not otherwise specified (MFSU) | 10 | 8 |
60 of the 78 codes in EWC chapter 07 are hazardous (marked with an asterisk). All hazardous codes require a hazardous waste consignment note — not a standard waste transfer note — an upper-tier registered waste carrier, and records kept for at least 3 years.
What is the repeating code pattern in chapter 07?
This pattern is consistent because each subcategory covers the same types of process waste but for a different industry sector. The table below shows the shared structure. The suffix (01, 03, 04…) is the same in every subcategory; only the two-digit prefix changes.
| Code suffix | Waste type | Hazardous? |
|---|---|---|
| 07 0x 01* | Aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors | Yes |
| 07 0x 03* | Organic halogenated solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors | Yes |
| 07 0x 04* | Other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors | Yes |
| 07 0x 07* | Halogenated still bottoms and reaction residues | Yes |
| 07 0x 08* | Other still bottoms and reaction residues | Yes |
| 07 0x 09* | Halogenated filter cakes and spent absorbents | Yes |
| 07 0x 10* | Other filter cakes and spent absorbents | Yes |
| 07 0x 11* | Sludges from on-site effluent treatment containing hazardous substances | Yes |
| 07 0x 12 | Sludges from on-site effluent treatment — no hazardous substances | No |
| 07 0x 99 | Wastes not otherwise specified | No |
In practice this means if you know the correct subcategory for your industry, you can select the hazardous or non-hazardous sludge entry (07 0x 11* or 07 0x 12) for effluent treatment waste and the appropriate solvent code (07 0x 03* or 07 0x 04*) depending on whether your solvent contains halogens (chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine). Some subcategories — 07 02, 07 04, and 07 05 — have additional codes beyond this base pattern for waste streams specific to those industries.
What are the most important codes in chapter 07?
| EWC code | Description | Hazardous? | Typical source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 02 13 | Waste plastic | No | Scrap and off-cuts from plastics manufacturing or compounding |
| 07 02 14* | Wastes from additives containing hazardous substances | Yes | Residues of plasticisers, flame retardants or other hazardous additives |
| 07 02 15 | Wastes from additives other than those mentioned in 07 02 14 | No | Non-hazardous additive residues from plastics processing |
| 07 02 16* | Waste containing hazardous silicones | Yes | Silicone waste from rubber manufacture that contains hazardous substances |
| 07 02 17 | Waste containing silicones other than those mentioned in 07 02 16 | No | Non-hazardous silicone scrap from rubber or sealant production |
| 07 04 13* | Solid wastes containing hazardous substances | Yes | Contaminated packaging, failed batches from pesticide or biocide manufacture |
| 07 05 13* | Solid wastes containing hazardous substances | Yes | Failed batches, off-spec product with active pharmaceutical ingredients |
| 07 05 14 | Solid wastes other than those mentioned in 07 05 13 | No | Inert excipients, non-haz packaging scrap from pharmaceutical manufacture |
| 07 01 04* | Other organic solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors | Yes | Used non-halogenated organic solvents from chemical synthesis |
| 07 01 03* | Organic halogenated solvents, washing liquids and mother liquors | Yes | Used chlorinated or fluorinated solvents from chemical synthesis |
Is waste plastic from manufacturing (07 02 13) hazardous?
This is the code for waste plastic generated during the manufacture or processing of plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres — for example, runner scrap from injection moulding, edge trim from sheet extrusion, or off-specification product from a compounding line.
- Non-hazardous plastics manufacturing scrap (07 02 13) — the plastic material itself; requires a standard waste transfer note and either an upper- or lower-tier registered carrier.
- Plastics additives waste that is hazardous (07 02 14*) — residues of plasticisers, flame retardants, stabilisers or other hazardous additives; always hazardous, requires consignment note.
- Plastic scrap generated elsewhere — packaging plastic discarded by a retailer or office is not manufacturing process waste and should be classified under chapter 15 (packaging) or chapter 20 (municipal/commercial waste), not 07 02 13.
What records does chapter 07 waste require?
| Waste type | Document | Retention | Carrier tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-hazardous — 07 0x 12, 07 0x 99, and additional non-haz entries (07 02 13, 07 02 15, 07 02 17, 07 05 14) | Standard waste transfer note | 2 years minimum | Upper or lower tier |
| Hazardous — any code marked * (60 codes) | Hazardous waste consignment note | 3 years minimum | Upper tier only |
Only upper-tier registered waste carriers may transport hazardous chapter 07 waste. Lower-tier registration covers certain non-hazardous movements but does not extend to asterisked codes. Producers who hand hazardous chapter 07 waste to an unregistered or lower-tier carrier breach the duty of care under s.34 Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Where waste from chapter 07 is classified as hazardous, producers in England must also notify the Environment Agency (or SEPA / NRW / NIEA for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively) if they produce more than 500 kg of hazardous waste per year from their premises. The notification requirement and any applicable consignment note fees vary by nation — check with your regulator.
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 07?
- EWC chapter 07 covers wastes from organic chemical processes. It contains 78 codes across seven subcategories (07 01 to 07 07), of which 60 are hazardous. The chapter covers waste from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use of basic organic chemicals (07 01), plastics and rubber (07 02), organic dyes and pigments (07 03), plant protection products and biocides (07 04), pharmaceuticals (07 05), fats and soaps (07 06), and fine chemicals (07 07).
- What EWC code should I use for waste plastic from plastics manufacturing?
- Waste plastic generated during the manufacture or processing of plastics is classified as EWC 07 02 13. This is a non-hazardous absolute entry within subcategory 07 02 (plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres). It requires a standard waste transfer note and an upper or lower tier registered carrier. Waste plastic from non-manufacturing sources — such as packaging discarded by a retailer — falls instead under chapter 15 (packaging waste) or chapter 20 (municipal waste).
- Are wastes from pharmaceutical manufacturing hazardous?
- Most pharmaceutical manufacturing wastes are hazardous. The solvents, washing liquids, still bottoms and filter cakes in subcategory 07 05 are all hazardous (07 05 01* to 07 05 11*). Solid wastes containing hazardous substances, such as failed batches or off-spec product containing active pharmaceutical ingredients, are 07 05 13* (hazardous). Only two codes are non-hazardous: 07 05 12 (effluent sludge not containing hazardous substances) and 07 05 14 (solid wastes such as inert excipients and packaging scrap not containing hazardous substances).
- What is the difference between EWC chapter 07 and chapter 08 for organic chemical waste?
- Chapter 07 covers waste generated during the manufacture or processing of organic chemicals themselves. Chapter 08 covers waste generated from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use of formulated products such as paints, varnishes, coatings, adhesives and printing inks. As a rule: if your process makes or refines an organic chemical (plastics, dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals), use chapter 07. If your process applies a finished coating, adhesive or ink product, use chapter 08.
- Do all chapter 07 waste codes require a hazardous waste consignment note?
- No — 60 of the 78 codes in chapter 07 are hazardous (asterisked) and require a hazardous waste consignment note plus an upper-tier registered carrier. The remaining 18 codes are non-hazardous and require only a standard waste transfer note. Non-hazardous codes include the effluent sludge entries (e.g. 07 01 12, 07 02 12) and the catch-all NOS codes (e.g. 07 01 99) in each subcategory, plus the additional non-hazardous entries in 07 02 (waste plastic 07 02 13, additive waste 07 02 15, silicone waste 07 02 17) and 07 05 (solid pharmaceutical waste 07 05 14).
Related guides
This guide is general information from ComplyWaste, not legal advice. Always check the primary sources for your situation.