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听01听02	15听01听04	15听01听01听	15听01听07	15听01听09
Other clean material, unmixed - excluding packaging	Non-hazardous	20听01听39	20听01听40	20听01听01听	20听01听02	20听01听11
Mixed clean material - including packaging	Non-hazardous	15听01听02 and 20听01听39	15听01听04 and 20听01听40	15听01听01听and 20听01听01听	15听01听07 and 20听01听02	15听01听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听01听10*	15听01听10*	15听01听10*	15听01听10*	15听01听10*
Empty packaging contaminated with residues of non-hazardous substances	Non-hazardous	15听01听02	15听01听04	15听01听01听	15听01听07	15听01听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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