EWC Code
Wastes from manufacture, formulation, supply and use of pharmaceuticals
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~500 kt–1 Mt/year pharmaceutical manufacturing waste
Valorisation Range
Solvent recovery €150–600/t; precious metal catalyst recovery €1000–5000/t
Primary Route
Solvent recovery and reuse
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Get contacts for EWC 07 05EWC 07 05 covers wastes from active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) synthesis, drug formulation, and associated laboratory and clinical waste. Key hazardous sub-codes: 07 05 01* (aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors), 07 05 03* (halogenated solvents), 07 05 04* (other solvents), 07 05 07* (halogenated still bottoms), 07 05 08* (other still bottoms). Non-hazardous pharmaceutical solid waste is 07 05 14.
Multi-step organic synthesis for API production generates large solvent volumes — the pharmaceutical industry is one of the highest users of solvents per kg of product (E-factor up to 100 in complex synthesis). Key solvents: dichloromethane, THF, acetonitrile, methanol, IPA, toluene. Solvent recovery by distillation is standard practice; recovered solvents reused on-site or sold. Fermentation-derived APIs generate biological waste streams — spent fermentation broth, mycelium cake.
Cytotoxic and antibiotic manufacturing wastes require segregated incineration — cytotoxics (anticancer drugs) to prevent environmental mutagenic/carcinogenic contamination; antibiotics to prevent antibiotic resistance dissemination. Homogeneous and heterogeneous precious metal catalysts (Pd, Pt, Rh) are recovered by specialist refiners with high economic return.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 07 05, ranked by economic value and market depth. Solvent recovery and reuse is the primary route.
Mother liquors and solvent wash streams distilled to recover DMF, DCM, acetonitrile, THF and other solvents. Recovered solvent tested by GC analysis against acceptance specification before return to formulation or sale. Distillation still bottoms (07 05 07*, 07 05 08*) separately managed.
Spent Pd/C, Pd(OH)₂, Pt/C and Rh catalysts returned to precious metal refiners (Johnson Matthey, Umicore) under consignment/weighback agreements. Typical Pd recovery 97–99%. Return credit substantially reduces net waste management cost.
Cytotoxic drug waste (mother liquors, still bottoms, out-of-spec API) incinerated at ≥1100°C at permitted hazardous waste facility. Antibiotic waste incinerated to prevent AMR dissemination. Full combustion verification required; no co-disposal with general pharmaceutical waste.
These are the established routes for EWC 07 05. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
API manufacturers generate the majority of 07 05 waste; in-house solvent recovery and catalyst management
Specialist refineries recover palladium, platinum and rhodium from spent pharmaceutical catalysts
Specialist solvent recovery contractors serve pharmaceutical industry under GMP-compliant logistics
Cytotoxic and antibiotic waste incineration operators
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 07 05 classification, transport, and treatment.
API synthesis plants above threshold are IED installations. BAT covers solvent recovery efficiency (≥85%), mother liquor treatment, fermentation waste deactivation and catalyst precious metal mass balance. VOC ELV: ≤10–20 mg C/Nm³ depending on sector.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and EMA recommend incineration as preferred disposal route for antibiotic manufacturing waste to prevent AMR dissemination. Discharge of antibiotic-containing effluent to waterways requires biological treatment removing ≥90% antibiotic activity.
EU GMP guidelines require segregation of pharmaceutical waste by product type, prevention of mix-up and full traceability from site to final disposal. Cytotoxic materials require closed transfer system and dedicated incineration contract with destruction certificate.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 07 05 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 07 05 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
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Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
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