EWC Code
Solid salts and solutions containing heavy metals
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~500 kt–2 Mt/year inorganic salt waste streams
Valorisation Range
Metal salt recovery value €50–500/t depending on metal content; spent brine regeneration low cost
Primary Route
Metal recovery and salt recycling
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Get contacts for EWC 06 03 13*EWC 06 03 13* is a specific sub-code under EWC 06 03 — Wastes from manufacture, formulation, supply and use of salts, their solutions and metallic oxides. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 06 03 covers wastes from the production and use of inorganic salts, salt solutions and metallic oxides. Hazardous sub-codes (06 03 11*, 06 03 13*) apply to solid salts and solutions containing cyanides or heavy metals such as chromium, lead, mercury, arsenic, zinc. Non-hazardous codes cover calcium, sodium and potassium salt wastes and contaminated salt brines.
The dominant generators are chlor-alkali membrane plants (depleted brine — 06 03 14), hydrometallurgical leach circuits (metal-bearing solution residues), chromate pigment manufacture (chromium salt waste — hazardous), and titanium dioxide production (ferrous sulphate by-product — see 06 03 15). Salt cake from secondary aluminium smelting contains sodium and potassium chlorides and aluminium oxide.
Recovery of metal values from salt solutions through solvent extraction, ion exchange or precipitation is established practice. Salt cake from aluminium smelting is processed by specialist recyclers — water leaching recovers NaCl and KCl, aluminium oxide residue returns to smelting or is sold. Cyanide-containing wastes (06 03 11*) require detoxification by alkaline chlorination or hydrogen peroxide oxidation before any discharge or disposal.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 06 03 13*, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Metal-bearing salt solutions processed by solvent extraction (SX) or ion exchange (IX) to recover metal values. Depleted brine recharged and recycled in-process. Salt cake from aluminium smelting processed at specialist plants to recover NaCl, KCl and Al₂O₃.
Cyanide-containing waste (06 03 11*) treated by alkaline chlorination (pH 10–11, hypochlorite) or SO₂/air (INCO process) to destroy free and complexed cyanide. Treated effluent polished by metals precipitation before discharge.
Residual solid salt wastes failing recovery thresholds stabilised with cement or pozzolans to fix heavy metals and reduce leachability. Leachate test (EN 12457) required before acceptance at hazardous landfill cell.
These are the established routes for EWC 06 03 13*. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Processes metal salt solutions and recovers chemical values for re-use
Salt cake recyclers return Al₂O₃ and NaCl/KCl to smelting circuits
Hydrometallurgical copper operations recover metal from salt leach solutions
Handles cyanide-containing and heavy-metal salt wastes requiring specialist treatment
Sectors that valorise EWC 06 03 13* as an input material or secondary raw material.
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