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European Waste Catalogue

EWC Code for Medicines

Most common code20 01 31* Hazardous entry

Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines are 20 01 31 (hazardous); all other municipal medicines are 20 01 32. Healthcare settings use the chapter 18 equivalents 18 01 08 / 18 01 09.

Also searched as: pharmaceuticals, expired drugs, medicine disposal

Have a 20 01 31 stream? See the dossier that replaces the feasibility study.

See the validation dossier
PrimaryHigh-temperature incineration
SecondaryAlternative treatment (autoclave/microwave)
BackstopAmalgam recovery (dental)

850,000 tonnes/year EU clinical waste · €1.8B clinical waste management market

Primary buyers include Hazardous waste treatment.

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Recovery tiers only. For numbers that survive a technical review, see the validation dossier.