EWC Code
Wastes containing metals other than those mentioned in 06 03
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~200–600 kt/year metal-bearing residues from inorganic chemical production
Valorisation Range
Secondary metal recovery value €100–2000/t depending on precious or specialty metal content
Primary Route
Precious and specialty metal recovery
Need verified buyer contacts with location-specific pricing?
Get contacts for EWC 06 04EWC 06 04 covers solid and semi-solid metal-bearing wastes from inorganic chemical manufacturing that do not fit the salt/solution classification of 06 03. Sub-codes 06 04 03* (arsenic), 06 04 04* (mercury), 06 04 05* (other heavy metals) are hazardous. Sub-code 06 04 99 covers non-hazardous metal-containing wastes not elsewhere specified.
Key streams include spent vanadium-pentoxide catalysts from sulphuric acid contact processes, spent molybdenum-based catalysts from hydrodesulphurisation, mercury-containing wastes from chlor-alkali amalgam cells (now phased out under the Mercury Regulation), and arsenic trioxide residues from non-ferrous smelting by-product processing.
Precious and platinum-group metal (PGM) catalyst waste commands significant secondary value — rhodium, palladium and platinum recovered by specialist refinery smelting. Vanadium and molybdenum catalysts are recycled through dedicated hydrometallurgical routes. Mercury recovery from 06 04 04* waste is mandatory under the EU Mercury Regulation 2017/852 before any disposal.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 06 04, ranked by economic value and market depth. Precious and specialty metal recovery is the primary route.
Spent PGM, vanadium and molybdenum catalysts smelted at specialist secondary refineries. Material assayed before acceptance. PGMs recovered by fire assay + wet chemistry; vanadium leached and precipitated as ammonium metavanadate. Return credit typically covers or exceeds disposal cost.
Mercury-containing wastes (06 04 04*) processed through retort distillation to recover elemental mercury. Under EU Mercury Regulation 2017/852, recovered mercury must be converted to mercuric sulphide or stored permanently in salt mines — export for reuse prohibited.
Residual arsenic, antimony and cadmium-bearing solid wastes (06 04 03*, 06 04 05*) stabilised with cement-based binder and tested to WAC before disposal at hazardous landfill. Arsenic immobilisation using ferrihydrite co-precipitation preferred where technically feasible.
These are the established routes for EWC 06 04. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Catalyst manufacturers recycle spent PGM and base metal catalysts through vendor take-back schemes
Specialist refineries recover platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold from spent catalyst and chemical waste
Integrated copper smelters process arsenic-bearing residues, capturing arsenic in calcium arsenate
Mercury retorting and arsenic stabilisation specialist operators
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 06 04 classification, transport, and treatment.
Mercury-containing wastes (06 04 04*) must be treated to remove mercury before any disposal. Recovered mercury must be stored permanently in stabilised form (HgS) or underground; export for sale prohibited. Operators must report annual mercury waste throughput.
Arsenic compounds are restricted (REACH Annex XVII entry 19 for wood preservatives) and classified as SVHCs. Cadmium in wastes subject to Regulation (EU) 494/2011 concentration limits for recycled materials. Characterisation required before offering waste-derived materials.
Arsenic capture in non-ferrous smelting (from 06 04 03* processing) governed by ELVs for As in stack emissions. Wet scrubbing or bag filter + activated carbon injection required as BAT.
Leave your work email. Our industrial desk sends verified company contacts with location-specific pricing and contract minimums for wastes containing metals other than those mentioned in 06 03 — not generic benchmarks.
Reviewed by our industrial desk within 1 business day.
Sectors that valorise EWC 06 04 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 06 04 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 06 04 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
Browse all EWC codes