EWC chapter 17: construction & demolition waste codes explained

Chapter 17 of the European Waste Catalogue — adopted in UK law as the List of Wastes — covers every type of waste generated on construction and demolition sites, including excavated soil from contaminated land. Here is every subcategory, every six-digit code, which ones are hazardous, and how to pick the right one for your waste transfer note.

What is EWC chapter 17?

The European Waste Catalogue is the master list of waste codes used across the UK. In England, Wales and Scotland it is adopted as the List of Wastes; Northern Ireland has equivalent retained legislation. Every waste movement needs the correct six-digit code on the waste transfer note or hazardous consignment note. For construction and demolition work, all applicable codes sit in chapter 17.

Chapter 17 contains 38 EWC codes across 8 subcategories. 16 of those codes are hazardous (asterisked). Waste carrying a hazardous code must travel on a hazardous waste consignment note — not a standard WTN — and that note must be kept for at least 3 years.

What are the 8 subcategories of EWC chapter 17?

What are all the EWC codes in chapter 17?

The full list of six-digit codes is set out below by subcategory. Hazardous codes are marked with an asterisk (*). Waste carrying a hazardous code must travel with a hazardous waste consignment note, not a standard waste transfer note.

17 01 — Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

17 02 — Wood, glass and plastic

17 03 — Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tarred products

Old road planings or tarmac must be tested before classification. Bituminous material that does not contain coal tar (for example most modern road asphalt) is 17 03 02. If coal tar is present — more common in older surfaces laid before the 1980s — the material is 17 03 01* and must be treated as hazardous.

17 04 — Metals (including their alloys)

17 05 — Soil, stones and dredging spoil

Soil is the largest chapter 17 waste stream by volume. Excavated soil from a site with no known contamination is normally 17 05 04. Soil from a contaminated site — where chemical testing shows concentrations of hazardous substances above classification thresholds — must be coded 17 05 03* and treated as hazardous waste. The classification must be supported by analytical data.

17 06 — Insulation materials and asbestos-containing construction materials

17 08 — Gypsum-based construction materials

Clean plasterboard and plaster is classified as 17 08 02. Gypsum that has been contaminated — for example plasterboard found alongside asbestos-containing materials and assessed as contaminated — is 17 08 01*. Plasterboard waste is subject to landfill restrictions and must be kept separate at the point of disposal.

17 09 — Other construction and demolition wastes

Code 17 09 04 is the catch-all for mixed demolition waste assessed as free from hazardous substances. It is widely used but the assessment must come first — do not default to it without confirming that no component materials (asbestos, coal tar, PCB-containing items, mercury switches, contaminated soil) are present in the load.

How do I choose the right EWC code for construction waste?

• →Concrete, bricks, tiles, ceramics — clean single-material rubble: 17 01 01, 17 01 02 or 17 01 03; clean mixed rubble: 17 01 07; contaminated rubble: 17 01 06*.
• →Soil and excavated material — uncontaminated soil: 17 05 04; soil confirmed contaminated by testing: 17 05 03*.
• →Metals — clean metals use the specific code (17 04 01–17 04 07); mixed clean metals: 17 04 07; metal contaminated with hazardous substances: 17 04 09*.
• →Asbestos — always hazardous: insulation as 17 06 01*, other asbestos-containing construction materials as 17 06 05*.
• →Mixed demolition waste — assessed non-hazardous: 17 09 04; containing hazardous substances: 17 09 03*.
• →Road planings / tarmac — modern asphalt without coal tar: 17 03 02; material containing coal tar (older surfaces): 17 03 01*.

Do I need a waste transfer note for construction and demolition waste?

The duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 applies to all controlled waste, including construction and demolition waste. Waste transfer notes must be retained for at least 2 years; hazardous waste consignment notes for at least 3 years. Both the waste producer and the waste carrier must keep copies. Failure to hold proper documentation can result in a fixed penalty or prosecution.

This guide is general information about EWC waste codes, not legal or technical advice. For formal waste classification, follow the Environment Agency's WM3 technical guidance and verify codes against the primary sources below. If in doubt about whether a waste is hazardous, treat it as hazardous until you have a classification.