EWC Code
Wastes from manufacture, formulation, supply and use of fats, grease, soaps, detergents, disinfectants and cosmetics
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~500 kt–1.5 Mt/year across soap, detergent and cosmetics manufacturing
Valorisation Range
Glycerol by-product €300–500/t; fatty acid distillation residues €50–150/t as feed
Primary Route
Oleochemical by-product valorisation
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Get contacts for EWC 07 06EWC 07 06 covers wastes from oleochemical processing, soap and detergent manufacture, disinfectant production, and cosmetics manufacturing. Most sub-codes are non-hazardous given the biological origin of feedstocks, but 07 06 01* (aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors), 07 06 03* (halogenated solvents) and 07 06 07* (halogenated still bottoms) are hazardous where dangerous substances are present.
Oleochemical refining generates soap stock (alkali-refined — contains soaps, phospholipids and water), spent bleaching earth (SBE — activated clay saturated with vegetable oil), and fatty acid distillation residues (pitch). Soap stock acidulation produces acid oil for biodiesel or animal feed. SBE retains 20–35% oil and is combusted for energy recovery or composted if oil content is sufficiently low.
Detergent manufacture generates surfactant mother liquors (high COD, anionic/non-ionic surfactant content), spray-drying scrubber water and filter press cake from silicate/zeolite slurry systems. Cosmetics production creates solvent-based residues from fragrance formulation and small volumes of out-of-specification product. Glycerol from biodiesel and soap production is a high-volume by-product with established markets in food, pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 07 06, ranked by economic value and market depth. Oleochemical by-product valorisation is the primary route.
Soap stock acidulated to acid oil and sold for biodiesel (FAME), animal feed or oleochemical feedstock. Glycerol purified and sold to pharmaceutical, food or chemical sectors. Fatty acid pitch used as fuel for steam raising on-site. SBE with >15% oil co-processed at cement kiln or combusted.
Aqueous washing liquids and mother liquors with high COD (2000–20000 mg/L) treated by activated sludge biological treatment. Surfactant-containing streams require extended aeration for full mineralisation. Treated effluent monitored for anionic surfactant concentration before discharge to sewer.
Spent bleaching earth with low oil content (≤10%) composted with other bio-waste fractions — clay minerals act as soil conditioner. High-oil SBE (>20%) co-incinerated at permitted facilities. All SBE disposal avoids landfill of oily material under IED permit conditions.
These are the established routes for EWC 07 06. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Generates 07 06 streams; glycerol and fatty acid by-products sold to multiple sectors
Oleochemical refiners generate soap stock and SBE as by-products from vegetable oil refining
Oleochemicals (fatty acids, fatty alcohols) from acid oil serve as base chemicals for surfactant synthesis
Biological treatment of surfactant-bearing effluent; composting of SBE
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 07 06 classification, transport, and treatment.
Soap stock, acid oil and SBE derived from processing of animal-origin fats (Category 3 material) governed by ABPR. Conversion to FAME (biodiesel) or animal feed requires approved plant and end-point testing. Category 1 material (high-risk animal by-products) cannot be valorised.
Acid oil, SBE extract and soap stock from Chapter 1 (non-food fats) are listed renewable fuel feedstocks eligible for double-counting towards transport targets. Certification via ISCC or REDcert scheme required for fuel use.
Large-scale vegetable oil refining and oleochemical production are IED installations. BAT covers SBE defatting to recover oil before disposal, soap stock acidulation, and effluent COD minimisation (≤125 mg/L after biological treatment).
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Sectors that valorise EWC 07 06 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 07 06 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 07 06 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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