Packaging waste and recyclables: how to classify

Question

Accepted Answer

You must classify the waste your business produces before it is collected, disposed of or recovered.

You must do this to identify:

if the waste is hazardous or not
which controls apply to the movement of the waste - this is to prevent harm to people and the environment

Containers must be empty to be classified as packaging waste.

Common waste codes

	Waste status	Plastic	Metal	Paper and cardboard	Glass	Textiles
Clean packaging	Non-hazardous	15聽01聽02	15聽01聽04	15聽01聽01聽	15聽01聽07	15聽01聽09
Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging	Non-hazardous	20聽01聽39	20聽01聽40	20聽01聽01聽	20聽01聽02	20聽01聽11
Mixed clean material - including packaging	Non-hazardous	15聽01聽02 and 20聽01聽39	15聽01聽04 and 20聽01聽40	15聽01聽01聽and 20聽01聽01聽	15聽01聽07 and 20聽01聽02	15聽01聽09 and 20聽01聽10
Empty packaging contaminated with residues of hazardous substances, for example paint cans, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and drums	Hazardous	15聽01聽10*	15聽01聽10*	15聽01聽10*	15聽01聽10*	15聽01聽10*
Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances	Non-hazardous	15聽01聽02	15聽01聽04	15聽01聽01聽	15聽01聽07	15聽01聽09

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Or check the聽technical guidance on waste, which lists all of the waste codes and how to apply them.

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you are not sure what code to use for your waste.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

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