What is hazardous waste?

Hazardous waste is waste that may be harmful to human health or the environment.

Examples of hazardous wastes:

  • asbestos 
  • chemical wastes, eg brake fluid, printer toner
  • healthcare wastes, eg syringes, drugs and dressings
  • electrical equipment containing hazardous components such as cathode ray tubes or lead solder, eg computer monitors, televisions 
  • fluorescent light tubes, eg energy-saving light bulbs
  • lead-acid batteries 
  • oils, including oily sludges (this does not include cooking oil)
  • pesticides 
  • solvents, eg aerosols.

European Waste Catalogue (EWC)

You must use the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes to describe the waste on consignment notes whenever you move hazardous waste.

The EWC has a six-digit code for all types of waste. Hazardous waste is identified in the EWC with an asterisk (*):

  • 'absolute entries' are wastes that are always hazardous - for example, inorganic wood preservatives, waste oils or oil filters and wastes from asbestos processing
  • 'mirror entries' are wastes that are classed as hazardous if they have dangerous substances present in amounts above certain thresholds - for example, some wastes containing arsenic or mercury or with hazardous properties such as flammability.

Your environmental regulator has produced guidance that:

  • will help you determine if your waste is hazardous
  • lists the waste types in the EWC
  • provides advice on classifying and assessing hazardous waste.

Safety data sheet

If you receive materials or chemicals at your site, they should be accompanied by a safety data sheet. The information contained on the safety data sheet will help you decide if your waste is hazardous. If you are unsure, contact your environmental regulator or a specialist waste management contractor.

In this guideline: