EWC Code
Tar-containing waste from anode manufacture
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
1.2 million tonnes/year EU other non-ferrous residues
Valorisation Range
€420M nickel, cobalt and tin processing market
Primary Route
Specialist non-ferrous metal recovery
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Get contacts for EWC 10 08 12EWC 10 08 12 is a specific sub-code under EWC 10 08 — Wastes from other non-ferrous thermal metallurgy. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
This sub-chapter covers thermal metallurgy wastes from metals not separately covered in 10 03–10 07, including nickel, cobalt, tin, titanium, chromium, manganese and refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum. Nickel smelting generates large volumes of slag rich in iron and silica with trace nickel; ferronickel slag is used in road construction and abrasives.
Battery chemistry has dramatically increased demand for cobalt and nickel in lithium-ion cell manufacturing. Cobalt-bearing waste from battery production (black mass, electrode scraps) now flows through non-ferrous metallurgical processors. Pyrometallurgical processing of black mass in electric arc furnaces produces cobalt-nickel alloy for re-refining, alongside slag that may contain lithium values.
Flue dust from pyrometallurgical processing of nickel, cobalt or tin concentrates is classified hazardous due to arsenic, cadmium or nickel content. Nickel compounds classified H350 (may cause cancer) require special containment at disposal. EU Batteries Regulation 2023/1542 mandates minimum recovery rates for cobalt (95%) and nickel (95%) from waste batteries from 2026.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 10 08 12, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Slags and drosses containing nickel, cobalt or tin are processed by specialist hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical operators. Nickel slag is processed by matte smelting or pressure leach; cobalt recovered by solvent extraction; tin recovered from stanniferous slag by electric furnace reduction with recovery >90%.
Inert slag fractions from ferronickel and ferrochromium smelting are used as road aggregate, railway ballast and abrasive blasting grit. EN 13043 and EN 12620 standards apply for use in asphalt and concrete. Chromium(VI) content must be <0.1 mg/L in eluate for construction use.
Flue dust from pyrometallurgical processing classified hazardous due to arsenic, cadmium or nickel content. Stabilisation and disposal to hazardous landfill under 1999/31/EC. Nickel-bearing waste requires containment in double-lined cell with leachate collection due to H350 carcinogen classification.
These are the established routes for EWC 10 08 12. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Process slag and dross from nickel, cobalt, tin and titanium metallurgy for metal recovery
Sort and grade non-ferrous metal-bearing waste for appropriate recovery routes
Recover cobalt and nickel from battery black mass for re-use in new cell cathode material
Use ferronickel slag as abrasive grit or road aggregate after quality certification
Sectors that valorise EWC 10 08 12 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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