EWC Code
Wastes from spirits distillation
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~8 Mt/year EU beverage production residues (grape marc, spent grain, distillery lees)
Valorisation Range
Grape marc distillation: €80–150/t; spent wash biogas: €25–45/t; CO₂ recovery: €200–350/t
Primary Route
Distillation, tartrate recovery and by-product valorisation
Need verified buyer contacts with location-specific pricing?
Get contacts for EWC 02 07 02EWC 02 07 02 is a specific sub-code under EWC 02 07 — Wastes from the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except coffee, tea and cocoa). The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 02 07 covers residues from alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage production: grape marc (pomace after pressing), wine lees (tartrate-containing sediment), spent wash (stillage from grain distilleries), brewery spent grain (covered also under 02 03), diatomite filter cake, CO₂ vent losses, fruit juice press cake and effluent sludge. The sector spans wine, beer, spirits, cider, fruit juices and soft drinks, generating broadly similar biodegradable organic residues.
Grape marc from European wine production (~8 Mt grapes processed/year) is distilled for marc brandy/grappa or composted. Wine lees (0.5–1 ML/year EU) are distilled to recover alcohol and tartaric acid — a significant commercial by-product in Italian and Spanish wine production. Distillery spent wash has very high BOD (~30,000 mg/L) and is co-digested or used in animal feed (vinasse) after concentration. Soft drink production generates CO₂ (recovered), fruit pomace and sugar syrup waste.
Diatomite filter cakes (used in beer and wine clarification) are classified as 02 07 03 (filter residues) and can be composted or used as soil conditioner. Where cleaning chemicals or SO₂ preservation treatments contaminate process residues, hazardous sub-classification may apply. Industrial CO₂ recovery from fermentation is increasingly valuable for food-grade use, reducing reliance on synthetic CO₂ sources.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 02 07 02, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Grape marc distilled for marc/grappa (regulated product); lees distilled for lees spirit and tartaric acid recovery (€2,000–4,000/t). Spent wash concentrated to vinasse for animal feed. All routes convert waste to commercial product, exiting waste regulation.
Marc, spent wash and fruit pomace co-digested for biogas. Spent wash particularly energy-dense. Digestate applied to vineyards or arable land. Several EU breweries achieve near-zero waste through on-site biogas plants fuelled by spent grain and effluent.
Spent grain, marc and diatomite filter cake composted for horticultural and agricultural use. Requires compliance with national compost quality standards. Residual marc after distillation composted as nutrient-rich organic amendment.
These are the established routes for EWC 02 07 02. 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; also receiver of recovered CO₂ and tartaric acid
Biogas plants and composting facilities process beverage production residues
Vineyards apply marc compost and distillery lees as organic soil amendment
Tartaric acid extracted from wine lees for pharmaceutical and food use
Livestock receive vinasse (concentrated stillage) and spent grain as feed
Dedicated waste-stream pages covering EWC 02 07 02 — pricing, buyer industries and valorisation routes.
Sectors that valorise EWC 02 07 02 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Leave your work email. Our industrial desk sends verified company contacts with location-specific pricing and contract minimums for wastes from spirits distillation — not generic benchmarks.
Reviewed by our industrial desk within 1 business day.