EWC Code
Sludges from zinc hydrometallurgy
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~200–600 kt/year metal-bearing residues from inorganic chemical production
Valorisation Range
Secondary metal recovery value €100–2000/t depending on precious or specialty metal content
Primary Route
Precious and specialty metal recovery
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Get contacts for EWC 11 02 02*EWC 11 02 02* is a specific sub-code under EWC 06 04 — Wastes containing metals other than those mentioned in 06 03. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 06 04 covers solid and semi-solid metal-bearing wastes from inorganic chemical manufacturing that do not fit the salt/solution classification of 06 03. Sub-codes 06 04 03* (arsenic), 06 04 04* (mercury), 06 04 05* (other heavy metals) are hazardous. Sub-code 06 04 99 covers non-hazardous metal-containing wastes not elsewhere specified.
Key streams include spent vanadium-pentoxide catalysts from sulphuric acid contact processes, spent molybdenum-based catalysts from hydrodesulphurisation, mercury-containing wastes from chlor-alkali amalgam cells (now phased out under the Mercury Regulation), and arsenic trioxide residues from non-ferrous smelting by-product processing.
Precious and platinum-group metal (PGM) catalyst waste commands significant secondary value — rhodium, palladium and platinum recovered by specialist refinery smelting. Vanadium and molybdenum catalysts are recycled through dedicated hydrometallurgical routes. Mercury recovery from 06 04 04* waste is mandatory under the EU Mercury Regulation 2017/852 before any disposal.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 11 02 02*, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Spent PGM, vanadium and molybdenum catalysts smelted at specialist secondary refineries. Material assayed before acceptance. PGMs recovered by fire assay + wet chemistry; vanadium leached and precipitated as ammonium metavanadate. Return credit typically covers or exceeds disposal cost.
Mercury-containing wastes (06 04 04*) processed through retort distillation to recover elemental mercury. Under EU Mercury Regulation 2017/852, recovered mercury must be converted to mercuric sulphide or stored permanently in salt mines — export for reuse prohibited.
Residual arsenic, antimony and cadmium-bearing solid wastes (06 04 03*, 06 04 05*) stabilised with cement-based binder and tested to WAC before disposal at hazardous landfill. Arsenic immobilisation using ferrihydrite co-precipitation preferred where technically feasible.
These are the established routes for EWC 11 02 02*. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Catalyst manufacturers recycle spent PGM and base metal catalysts through vendor take-back schemes
Specialist refineries recover platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold from spent catalyst and chemical waste
Integrated copper smelters process arsenic-bearing residues, capturing arsenic in calcium arsenate
Mercury retorting and arsenic stabilisation specialist operators
Sectors that valorise EWC 11 02 02* as an input material or secondary raw material.
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