EWC Code
Chlorinated mineral engine, gear and lubricating oils
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~3.2M tonnes/yr (EU, lubricant consumption basis)
Valorisation Range
€0.25–0.55/litre re-refined base oil; energy recovery at €0.10–0.20/litre
Primary Route
Re-Refining to Base Oil
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Get contacts for EWC 13 02 04*EWC 13 02 04* is a specific sub-code under EWC 13 02 — Waste engine, gear and lubricating oils. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 13 02 covers used lubricating oils — mineral or synthetic — arising from the lubrication of engines, gearboxes, hydraulic systems, and industrial machinery. These oils degrade through oxidation, thermal stress, contamination with metal particles, and water ingress, losing their lubricating properties over time.
Directive 2008/98/EC Article 21 mandates that Member States establish separate collection systems for waste oils to facilitate re-refining as the preferred recovery operation (R9). Re-refining extracts base oil fractions equivalent in quality to virgin Group I–III base oils, displacing primary petroleum extraction.
Hazardous sub-codes (13 02 04* through 13 02 06*) contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or other persistent organic pollutants above threshold concentrations. Non-hazardous 13 02 08 covers other engine, gear and lubricating oils that pass halogen content screens.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 13 02 04*, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Waste oil processed through vacuum distillation and hydrotreatment to produce Group I–III base oils meeting EN 14214 specification. Re-refined base oil is functionally equivalent to virgin base oil. EU capacity: ~1.1M tonnes/yr. Gate fee: negative (collector pays generator €0.05–0.20/litre in regions with strong collection infrastructure).
Waste oil used as alternative fuel in cement kilns and lime kilns, displacing primary fuel (coal, petcoke). Calorific value 35–40 MJ/kg. Accepted by major cement groups under permitted co-processing licences. Gate fee: €0–30/tonne; economic against primary fuel price.
Incineration in permitted industrial burners (steel reheat furnaces, power stations) meeting IED Directive emission limits. Lower recovery credit than re-refining; used for off-spec or highly contaminated fractions not suitable for re-refining.
These are the established routes for EWC 13 02 04*. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Re-refining of waste oil to base oil fractions
Alternative fuel co-processing in rotary kilns
Waste oil collection, blending, and pre-treatment
Aggregation and brokering of waste oil volumes
Dedicated waste-stream pages covering EWC 13 02 04* — pricing, buyer industries and valorisation routes.
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