EWC chapter 13: oil and liquid fuel waste codes explained
Last updated 9 September 2026
In short
EWC chapter 13 covers oil wastes and wastes of liquid fuels (except edible oils, and those in chapters 05, 12 and 19). It contains 32 six-digit codes across 7 subcategories — 13 01 to 13 08 (with no 13 06). Every code carries an asterisk, making all chapter 13 waste hazardous. Each movement therefore requires a hazardous waste consignment note, an upper-tier registered waste carrier, and records kept for at least 3 years.
Waste oil is one of the most common hazardous wastes produced by UK businesses — from garages disposing of used engine oil to manufacturers draining hydraulic systems and industrial sites emptying oil/water separators. Getting the EWC code right determines whether you need a standard waste transfer note or a hazardous waste consignment note, who can carry it, and how long you must keep the records.
What is EWC chapter 13?
The chapter spans the full range of oil waste streams encountered in the UK: waste hydraulic fluids, used engine and gear oils, spent insulating oils from transformers, bilge oils from vessels, the contents of oil/water separators, contaminated liquid fuels, and miscellaneous oil wastes. Because every code carries an asterisk (*) in the List of Wastes, the entire chapter falls under the hazardous waste regime — no exceptions.
Note: edible oils (cooking oil, fats) are not chapter 13 waste. Used cooking oil from households is EWC 20 01 25; from commercial kitchens it is typically EWC 20 01 25 or 02 02 04 depending on its origin.
What subcategories and codes does chapter 13 contain?
Chapter 13 has 7 subcategories numbered 13 01 through 13 08 — there is no 13 06. The table below shows each subcategory, the codes it contains, and the types of waste and businesses most likely to use them.
| Subcategory | Description | Codes (all hazardous *) | Typical sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 01 | Waste hydraulic oils | 04*, 05*, 09*, 10*, 11*, 12*, 13* (7 codes) | Manufacturing plant, construction machinery, presses, injection moulding |
| 13 02 | Waste engine, gear and lubricating oils | 04*, 05*, 06*, 07*, 08* (5 codes) | Vehicle workshops, garages, hauliers, fleet operators |
| 13 03 | Waste insulating and heat transmission oils | 01*, 06*, 07*, 08*, 09*, 10* (6 codes) | Electrical substations, power stations, industrial sites with transformers |
| 13 04 | Bilge oils | 01*, 02*, 03* (3 codes) | Inland waterway vessels, marinas, jetties, coastal and ocean navigation |
| 13 05 | Oil/water separator contents | 01*, 02*, 03*, 06*, 07*, 08* (6 codes) | Petrol stations, car parks, vehicle washes, garages, forecourts |
| 13 07 | Wastes of liquid fuels | 01*, 02*, 03* (3 codes) | Fuel distributors, fuel storage sites, contaminated tank removals |
| 13 08 | Oil wastes not otherwise specified | 01*, 02* (2 codes) | Oil refineries, desalination processes, oil processing facilities |
What are the most commonly used EWC chapter 13 codes?
| EWC code | Description | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| 13 01 10* | Mineral-based non-chlorinated hydraulic oils | Drained hydraulic fluid from plant, presses or manufacturing machinery |
| 13 02 05* | Mineral-based non-chlorinated engine, gear and lubricating oils | Used engine oil from car, van or truck oil changes at a garage |
| 13 02 06* | Synthetic engine, gear and lubricating oils | Used fully-synthetic or semi-synthetic engine oil |
| 13 03 07* | Mineral-based non-chlorinated insulating and heat transmission oils | Spent transformer oil not containing PCBs |
| 13 05 06* | Oil from oil/water separators | Oil phase pumped out of a petrol-station forecourt separator |
| 13 05 07* | Oily water from oil/water separators | Aqueous phase from a vehicle-wash or car-park separator |
| 13 07 01* | Fuel oil and diesel | Off-spec, contaminated or unwanted diesel from a storage tank |
| 13 07 02* | Petrol | Contaminated or surplus petrol from fuel storage or tank cleaning |
Are all EWC chapter 13 codes hazardous?
All 32 EWC chapter 13 codes are hazardous. Every movement of chapter 13 waste requires a hazardous waste consignment note (not a standard WTN), an upper-tier registered waste carrier, and records kept for at least 3 years.
An “absolute hazardous” designation means the waste is hazardous by its nature — you cannot reclassify it as non-hazardous by testing or dilution. Waste oil contaminated with solvents, coolants or fuel is still chapter 13 waste; it does not move to a different chapter simply because the contamination changes its composition.
What records does chapter 13 waste require?
The consignment note must include the EWC code, a description of the waste, the quantity, the producer's details, the carrier's registration number, and the receiving site's address and permit reference. In England, hazardous waste producers must also notify the Environment Agency if they produce more than 500 kg of hazardous waste per year at a premises — this applies to most businesses generating waste oil regularly.
| Document | When used | Retention period |
|---|---|---|
| Standard waste transfer note | Non-hazardous waste only — not applicable to any chapter 13 code | 2 years |
| Hazardous waste consignment note | All chapter 13 waste (all 32 codes are hazardous *) | 3 years minimum |
Who can carry chapter 13 waste?
Businesses that produce waste oil and arrange for its collection must check that the carrier holds a current upper-tier registration. Handing waste oil to an unregistered or lower-tier carrier is a breach of the duty of care and can result in a fixed-penalty notice or prosecution under s.34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
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 13?
- EWC chapter 13 covers oil wastes and wastes of liquid fuels, except edible oils and oil wastes already captured in chapters 05, 12 and 19. It contains 32 six-digit codes across 7 subcategories (13 01 hydraulic oils, 13 02 engine and lubricating oils, 13 03 insulating oils, 13 04 bilge oils, 13 05 oil/water separator contents, 13 07 liquid fuels, 13 08 other oil wastes). Every code is hazardous.
- What EWC code is used for waste engine oil?
- The most common code for used engine oil from vehicles is 13 02 05* (mineral-based non-chlorinated engine, gear and lubricating oils). Synthetic engine oils are classified as 13 02 06*, and readily biodegradable engine oils as 13 02 07*. All are hazardous and require a hazardous waste consignment note.
- Is used engine oil hazardous waste in the UK?
- Yes. All waste oil codes in EWC chapter 13 carry an asterisk, making them absolute hazardous waste regardless of quantity. Used engine oil (13 02 05*), hydraulic oil (13 01 10*) and all other chapter 13 codes therefore require a hazardous waste consignment note, an upper-tier registered carrier, and records kept for at least 3 years.
- What EWC code covers oil from an oil/water separator?
- Two codes apply: 13 05 06* for the oil phase recovered from an oil/water separator, and 13 05 07* for the oily water (the aqueous phase). Both are hazardous. 13 05 01* covers the settled solids from the grit chamber, and 13 05 08* covers mixed grit-and-oil separator residues. These codes are most commonly used by petrol stations, car parks, vehicle workshops and garages.
- What is the EWC code for contaminated diesel or fuel oil?
- Waste fuel oil and diesel is classified as 13 07 01*, petrol as 13 07 02*, and other or mixed liquid fuels as 13 07 03*. All three are hazardous. These codes apply to off-spec, contaminated or unwanted liquid fuels — not to fuel in normal use.
Related guides
This guide is general information from ComplyWaste, not legal advice. Always check the primary sources for your situation.