EWC Code
Wastes from the dairy products industry
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~4 Mt/year EU dairy processing waste and by-products
Valorisation Range
Whey protein concentrate €4,000–8,000/t; lactose €800–1,200/t; biogas from sludge €30–50/t
Primary Route
Whey valorisation and membrane processing
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Get contacts for EWC 02 05EWC 02 05 covers residues from dairy manufacturing: whey (liquid permeate from cheese-making), whey protein concentrate and lactose (both high-value by-products), effluent treatment sludge, off-specification products, CIP (clean-in-place) caustic and acid cleaning effluents, and milk rinse water. The EU dairy sector processes ~155 Mt of milk annually, generating significant co-product streams.
Whey — approximately 9 litres per kilogram of cheese produced — was historically a significant pollution problem (BOD ~60,000 mg/L). Today, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membrane technology recovers whey protein concentrate (WPC) and isolate (WPI) as premium sports nutrition ingredients. Lactose permeate is crystallised to food-grade lactose or fermented to lactic acid or ethanol. Only residual whey that cannot be economically processed flows to biogas or WWTP.
Effluent treatment sludge from dairy plants is high in BOD, suspended solids and fat. DAF (dissolved air flotation) float from fat separation is rich in calories and increasingly co-digested with manure. The sector has achieved close to zero whey disposal in Northern Europe through integrated biorefinery approaches, but smaller artisan cheese producers still generate whey loads requiring wastewater treatment.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 02 05, ranked by economic value and market depth. Whey valorisation and membrane processing is the primary route.
Liquid whey processed via ultrafiltration to WPC (35–80% protein) for food and nutrition market. Permeate crystallised to lactose or fermented to bioethanol. High-value by-product route removes whey from waste classification under Art. 5 Directive 2008/98/EC.
Whey permeate not meeting purity standards, DAF sludge and effluent treatment residues co-digested in biogas plant. High energy content (~4,500 kJ/kg COD) makes dairy waste a preferred co-substrate in farm and industrial biogas plants.
Off-specification liquid whey and dairy rinse water supplied to pig farmers as liquid feed under feed hygiene approval. Waste classification depends on intended use; directly contracted supply from factory to farm may qualify as by-product.
These are the established routes for EWC 02 05. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Primary generator; integrated whey processing on-site at larger factories
Lactose and WPC sold to confectionery, bakery and infant formula manufacturers
Biogas plant operators process residual whey and dairy sludge
Pig farms receive liquid whey as approved feed supplement
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 02 05 classification, transport, and treatment.
Large dairy processing plants (>300 t/day milk throughput) require IED permits. BAT conclusions for food processing sector set emission limits for nitrogen, BOD and fat in wastewater discharge.
Off-specification dairy products and whey supplied for food or feed must meet food hygiene standards. CIP chemicals must be approved for food contact and handled separately from product streams.
Dairy products not intended for human consumption but used as animal feed are Category 3 material. Direct farm supply of surplus milk or whey as liquid feed requires documented Category 3 designation and feed hygiene compliance.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 02 05 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 02 05 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 02 05 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
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