EWC Code
Wastes from copper thermal metallurgy
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
3.6 million tonnes/year EU copper recycling
Valorisation Range
€1.2B secondary copper market
Primary Route
Slag processing and aggregate use
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Get contacts for EWC 10 06Copper thermal metallurgy generates slag, flue dust, anode slimes and refractory waste across primary smelting, converting and fire-refining operations. Primary copper smelting from concentrate produces converter slag containing 1–5% copper and significant iron, silica and sulphur values. Anode slimes from electrolytic refining contain gold, silver, platinum group metals and selenium, making them highly valuable secondary products.
Copper slag is generated in large volumes from primary smelting; EU production exceeds 2 million tonnes/year. Slow-cooled crystalline slag contains fayalite and has proven applications as abrasive blasting grit, cement substitute and road aggregate. Granulated copper slag quenched with water produces a glassy material used in concrete as supplementary cementitious material.
Flue dust from secondary smelting (10 06 03*) is classified hazardous due to lead, arsenic and antimony content from mixed scrap feeds. Environmental controls under IED require afterburning and wet scrubbing for dioxin and furan control when processing mixed copper scrap containing chlorinated plastics.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 10 06, ranked by economic value and market depth. Slag processing and aggregate use is the primary route.
Copper slag is slow-cooled and crushed to produce abrasive grit or used as cement substitute at up to 40% clinker replacement ratio. End-of-waste status applicable in many member states for slag meeting EN 12457 leachate standards. Copper-rich slag is returned to smelter for further copper recovery.
Anode slimes containing gold (100–5000 ppm), silver (5–30%), platinum and palladium are processed in precious metals refineries via chlorination, solvent extraction and electrorefining. Selenium and tellurium recovered as by-products for solar cell and thermoelectric applications.
Arsenic-bearing flue dust and contaminated refractory from secondary smelting require stabilisation to meet WAC leachate limits. Portland cement stabilisation reduces arsenic leachability. Treated material disposed to hazardous landfill with 30-year monitoring requirement.
These are the established routes for EWC 10 06. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Reprocess copper slag and flue dust to recover residual copper, precious metals and selenium
Process anode slimes for gold, silver and platinum group metal recovery
Use granulated copper slag as supplementary cementitious material in cement production
Process mixed copper-bearing waste streams for metal recovery
Use copper slag abrasive grit for surface preparation and blasting operations
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 10 06 classification, transport, and treatment.
Copper smelters and converters require IED permit. BREF for non-ferrous metals specifies BAT-AELs: arsenic <0.1 mg/Nm³, copper <1 mg/Nm³ from stack. Secondary copper smelters processing chlorinated scrap require dioxin monitoring with BAT-AEL of <0.05 ng TEQ/Nm³.
Copper slag meeting EN 12457 leachate criteria and structural quality standards can achieve end-of-waste status for use as abrasive grit or construction aggregate. Recovery classification (R5) applies to granulated slag used as cement substitute in clinker production.
Arsenic compounds are classified CMR Category 1A; flue dust containing arsenic above 0.1% requires hazardous waste consignment. Anode slimes containing selenium compounds require Safety Data Sheet under CLP Regulation 1272/2008 for any supply.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 10 06 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 10 06 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 10 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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