EWC Code
Wastes from zinc thermal metallurgy
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
2.1 million tonnes/year EU zinc processing residues
Valorisation Range
€310M secondary zinc and dross market
Primary Route
Direct zinc smelter recycling
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Get contacts for EWC 10 05Zinc thermal metallurgy generates hard zinc, dross, ash and flue dust as primary waste streams. Hot-dip galvanising produces zinc dross (bottom dross and top dross) containing 92–98% zinc, making it one of the most economically valuable waste streams in the sector. Hard zinc from galvanising pots typically contains 96–98% zinc with iron and lead impurities and is directly recyclable back to zinc smelters.
Flue dust from zinc smelting is classified hazardous (10 05 03*) due to cadmium content concentrated during pyrometallurgical processing. Waelz kiln technology is the dominant route for treating zinc-bearing residues, producing crude zinc oxide (Waelz oxide) containing 55–65% Zn that feeds into zinc refinery.
EU zinc demand is approximately 1.5 million tonnes/year with recycling providing 30% of supply. High-grade dross from galvanising can achieve end-of-waste status under national EoW criteria, allowing direct return to smelter without waste documentation.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 10 05, ranked by economic value and market depth. Direct zinc smelter recycling is the primary route.
Hard zinc and high-grade dross are returned directly to zinc smelters as secondary feed material. Bottom dross from hot-dip galvanising (95%+ Zn) commands near-metal price and is accepted without pre-processing. Top dross with higher oxide content requires briquetting before smelter acceptance.
Mixed zinc-bearing residues including flue dust and contaminated dross are processed in Waelz kilns, producing crude zinc oxide for zinc refinery feed. Process simultaneously removes cadmium and lead as higher-volatility metals into fume fraction.
Residues failing metal recovery economics are stabilised to meet WAC and disposed to hazardous landfill. Cadmium-bearing fractions require treatment to <5 mg/kg leachate before acceptance. Long-term monitored containment cell required for cadmium-rich wastes.
These are the established routes for EWC 10 05. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Reprocess zinc dross and flue dust to recover metallic zinc and zinc oxide
Process Waelz oxide into zinc oxide for rubber and chemicals industry
Sort and grade zinc-bearing waste streams for appropriate recovery route
Use zinc dross from galvanising lines for zinc alloy production in foundry applications
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 10 05 classification, transport, and treatment.
Zinc smelters and hot-dip galvanising plants above threshold capacity require IED installation permits. BREF specifies BAT-AELs for cadmium emissions: <0.05 mg/Nm³ from stack after bag filter. Fugitive emissions from dross handling controlled by enclosed transfer systems.
Cadmium is restricted in many applications under REACH Annex XVII. Zinc flue dust classified SVHC-bearing waste requires hazardous consignment documentation. Cadmium content must be declared in product information when residues enter supply chains.
High-grade zinc dross from galvanising can achieve end-of-waste status under national EoW criteria when meeting zinc content thresholds (typically >90%), contaminant limits and quality assurance requirements, allowing direct return to smelter without waste documentation.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 10 05 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 10 05 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 10 05 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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