EWC Code
Wastes from manufacture, formulation, supply and use of plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~2–4 Mt/year polymer process waste EU-wide
Valorisation Range
Off-spec polymer €100–400/t for reuse; catalyst residues €50–200/t
Primary Route
Polymer reprocessing and chemical recycling
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Get contacts for EWC 07 02EWC 07 02 covers wastes from polymerisation, compounding and downstream conversion of plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres. Principal streams include polymerisation reactor washout residues, off-specification polymer, spent polymerisation catalysts, residual monomer streams and filter cake from catalyst removal. Most streams are hazardous when catalyst, solvent or monomer residues are present above threshold concentrations.
Ziegler-Natta catalyst residues (titanium- and magnesium-based, in polyolefin production) are water-reactive and pyrophoric when concentrated — they require controlled quench and deactivation before disposal. PVC production generates vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) residue, classified as a Category 1A carcinogen, in reactor cleaning wastes. Synthetic rubber manufacturing generates styrene, butadiene and acrylonitrile residues in aqueous latex wastes.
In-process polymer waste (sprues, off-spec pellets, gels) is typically reprocessed directly. Contaminated polymer waste is increasingly directed to chemical recycling (pyrolysis, dissolution) rather than energy recovery in line with the EU Plastics Strategy and Packaging Regulation requirements. Man-made fibre manufacture (nylon, polyester, acrylic) generates spin-finish oil waste and fibre flock as the primary non-polymer waste streams.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 07 02, ranked by economic value and market depth. Polymer reprocessing and chemical recycling is the primary route.
Clean off-spec polymer regranulated and sold into lower-specification applications or returned to process. Contaminated polymer waste processed through pyrolysis (plastic-to-fuel or plastic-to-monomer) at permitted chemical recycling facilities. Pyrolysis oil assessed for SVHC content before sale.
Ziegler-Natta and chromium-based catalyst residues quenched with isopropanol or water under inert atmosphere. Deactivated catalyst sludge filtered; titanium and magnesium values recovered where economically viable. Residue stabilised and disposed as hazardous waste.
VCM-containing PVC wastes, monomer-contaminated filter cake and latex wastes incinerated at permitted hazardous waste facilities with HCl scrubbing (PVC generates HCl on combustion). Minimum combustion temperature 1100°C for chlorinated streams.
These are the established routes for EWC 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
Generates polymerisation waste; off-spec polymer sold to compounders or lower-grade converters
Manages latex waste, monomer residues and antioxidant/oil wastes in-house or via specialist contractors
Chemical recyclers (pyrolysis) accept contaminated polymer waste as feedstock
Handles VCM-contaminated and catalyst-bearing hazardous polymer wastes
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 07 02 classification, transport, and treatment.
Large polymer production plants are IED installations. BAT covers fugitive VOC emission control (VCM ≤1 mg/Nm³ at workplace), aqueous waste COD minimisation and closed-loop reactor washing. Pyrolysis of polymer waste regulated as waste treatment installation.
EU Single-Use Plastics Directive 2019/904 and revised Packaging Regulation drive demand for recycled content in plastic products — increasing the market value for chemical recycling outputs from polymer process waste.
Vinyl chloride monomer (SVHC, carcinogen Cat. 1A), styrene and 1,3-butadiene (carcinogens Cat. 1B) present in polymer process waste streams trigger hazardous waste classification. Workplace exposure monitoring and REACH registration for substances ≥1 tonne/year.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 07 02 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 07 02 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 07 02 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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