EWC Code
Other biocides containing dangerous substances
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~500,000 t/year EU treated wood waste and impregnation residues
Valorisation Range
Disposal at hazardous waste facilities €80–200/t; limited recovery routes for non-hazardous fractions
Primary Route
Thermal treatment in permitted facility
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Get contacts for EWC 03 02 05*EWC 03 02 05* is a specific sub-code under EWC 03 02 — Wood preservation wastes. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 03 02 covers residues from industrial wood preservation: process sludge from treatment plant sumps, spent preservative solutions, wood chips and shavings contaminated with biocides, and tank cleaning waste. The hazardous classification of specific sub-codes (03 02 01*, 03 02 02*, 03 02 03*, 03 02 04*, 03 02 05*) depends on the preservative system used — creosote, copper-chrome-arsenic (CCA), boron compounds, organic biocides or other chemicals.
Creosote-treated wood generates highly hazardous waste containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). CCA-treated wood contains chromium(VI), copper and arsenic and is banned for new residential use under Biocidal Products Regulation but remains in service. TPAC (triazole/pyrethroid/azole combinations) and boron treatments generate lower-hazard residues. The EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012 governs active substances permitted in wood preservatives, with several historic preservatives phased out under REACH.
Industrial symbiosis options are limited due to contamination: creosote-treated wood is restricted to energy recovery in permitted installations; CCA-treated wood requires thermal treatment with controlled ash management. Non-hazardous treatment residues (boron-based, some azole treatments) may be managed via non-hazardous waste routes. The end-of-life management of existing stock of CCA-treated utility poles is a growing challenge across EU Member States.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 03 02 05*, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Creosote and CCA wood waste incinerated in permitted installations under IED, ensuring flue gas treatment meets emission limit values. Ash from CCA-treated wood is hazardous and requires specialist disposal. Some cement kilns co-process non-hazardous treated wood fractions under waste-derived fuel permits.
Contaminated treatment sludge and heavily impregnated wood that cannot be thermally treated economically is disposed at permitted hazardous waste landfill meeting Directive 1999/31/EC Article 6 acceptance criteria after pre-treatment.
Non-hazardous treatment residues (boron compounds, water-based preservatives) may be managed as non-hazardous industrial waste. Sawdust and chips from boron-treated timber can be composted or used as biomass fuel subject to verification of preservative type and concentration.
These are the established routes for EWC 03 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
Sawmills with impregnation plants generate treatment residues
Utility pole and sleeper manufacturers are major generators of CCA and creosote waste
Hazardous waste treatment facilities and permitted energy recovery plants are primary receivers
Cement kilns co-process non-hazardous wood waste as alternative fuel
Sectors that valorise EWC 03 02 05* as an input material or secondary raw material.
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