EWC Code
Aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors from plastics manufacture
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~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 02 01*EWC 07 02 01* is a specific sub-code under EWC 07 02 — Wastes from manufacture, formulation, supply and use of plastics, synthetic rubber and man-made fibres. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 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 01*, ranked by economic value and market depth.
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 01*. 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
Sectors that valorise EWC 07 02 01* as an input material or secondary raw material.
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