EWC Code
Wastes from the iron and steel industry
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~400 Mt/year globally; ~90 Mt/year EU
Valorisation Range
€5–35/tonne (GGBS commands premium)
Primary Route
Slag Valorisation (GGBS)
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Get contacts for EWC 10 02EWC 10 02 covers all solid and sludge waste streams arising from the production of iron and steel, including blast furnace slag (BFS), basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag, electric arc furnace (EAF) slag, and associated dust and sludge fractions. The primary volume stream is slag — a silicate melt that separates from iron or steel during high-temperature smelting operations.
Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is a certified supplementary cementitious material (SCM) with latent hydraulic properties. Under BS EN 15167-1 and ASTM C989, GGBS replaces 40–70% of Portland cement in concrete mix designs, delivering long-term strength gains, reduced heat of hydration and enhanced sulphate resistance. At current market prices, GGBS fetches €30–60/tonne FOB European plants, making it one of the highest-value industrial mineral by-products in the construction sector.
Several 6-digit sub-codes within chapter 10 02 carry hazardous asterisk designation — notably 10 02 07* (solid wastes from gas treatment containing hazardous substances) and 10 02 11* (wastes from cooling-water treatment containing oils). These require segregated management under hazardous waste licensing and cannot commingle with non-hazardous chapter defaults.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 10 02, ranked by economic value and market depth. Slag Valorisation (GGBS) is the primary route.
Blast furnace slag granulated in water and ground to GGBS (BS EN 15167-1). At 40–70% Portland cement replacement, GGBS reduces embodied CO₂ by up to 50% per tonne of concrete. Key buyers: Ecocem, Hanson, Tarmac. Market premium over standard aggregate: €20–40/t.
Direct kiln feed at cement plants (NACE 23.51). Calcium-bearing slag fractions incorporated at temperatures exceeding 1,400°C achieve full mineral incorporation with zero residual. Used as alternative raw material (ARM) displacing limestone, with credit against cement carbon accounts under EU ETS.
Magnetic and density separation recovers residual iron units from EAF slag (1–5% metallic iron content). Recovered iron is recycled back into steelmaking, reducing primary ore consumption and improving furnace energy efficiency.
These are the established routes for EWC 10 02. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Internal recycling within integrated steelworks; EAF scrap furnaces reuse skull and metal units
BOF and EAF slag as road sub-base and fill — non-hazardous fractions only
GGBS as supplementary cementitious material; co-processing of calcium-rich slag fractions
Licensed treatment backstop for hazardous sub-codes (e.g. 10 02 07*, 10 02 11*)
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 10 02 classification, transport, and treatment.
Non-hazardous classification under 2008/98/EC unless a hazardous asterisk sub-code applies (e.g. 10 02 07*). Standard recovery and disposal licensing applies. GGBS frequently achieves by-product status under Article 5.
No ADR transport classification required for non-hazardous fractions. Hazardous sub-codes require UN-classified documentation and licensed waste carriers under European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
Iron and Steel Production BREF (2012). BAT conclusions cover slag granulation, stockpiling, valorisation pathways, and leachate control for unsold slag stockpiles. EU ETS applies to integrated steelworks (>2.5 t/hr iron production capacity).
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Sectors that valorise EWC 10 02 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 10 02 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 10 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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