EWC Code
Sludges or solid wastes containing other solvents
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
1.2 million tonnes/year EU waste refrigerant and solvent
Valorisation Range
€850M refrigerant recovery and solvent re-distillation market
Primary Route
Refrigerant recovery and reclamation
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Get contacts for EWC 14 06 05EWC 14 06 05 is a specific sub-code under EWC 14 06 — Waste organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
Chapter 14 contains a single 4-digit sub-chapter (14 06) covering all waste organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants not classified elsewhere. Refrigerants represent the largest waste stream by economic value: fluorinated refrigerants (HFCs, HCFCs, CFCs) must be recovered during service and at end-of-life under EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 and Montreal Protocol obligations. Refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclamation is a specialist sector with certified operators.
Ozone-depleting substances including R-11 (CFC-11), R-12 (CFC-12) and R-22 (HCFC-22) are subject to Regulation 1005/2009 and cannot be recovered for reuse — they must be destroyed by high-temperature incineration. Modern HFC refrigerants (R-134a, R-404A, R-410A) can be recovered, purified to AHRI 700 specification and re-sold for reuse, providing significant economic incentive for recovery. Natural refrigerants (ammonia, CO₂, propane) have no global warming potential but require specialist handling.
Aerosol propellants including butane, propane, dimethyl ether and HFCs are generated when aerosol containers are punctured for recycling. Propellant gas is flammable (butane/propane) or has global warming potential (HFCs) requiring controlled collection and recovery. Industrial solvents including chlorinated solvents (trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene), ketones, esters and alcohols are recovered by distillation for reuse where purity meets specification.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 14 06 05, ranked by economic value and market depth.
F-Gas certified engineers recover refrigerant during service and decommissioning using approved recovery equipment. Recovered refrigerant is transferred to F-Gas certified reclaimers who purify to AHRI 700 specification by distillation, filtration and moisture removal. Reclaimed refrigerant is re-sold equivalent to virgin product. Recovery certificate issued per cylinder.
Contaminated industrial solvents (ketones, esters, alcohols, chlorinated solvents) are re-distilled by licensed solvent recovery operators to recover >95% purity solvent for reuse in original or alternative application. Distillation residues containing higher-boiling impurities are incinerated. Closed-loop solvent management under WFD end-of-waste criteria reduces waste volumes.
Ozone-depleting substances including CFC and HCFC refrigerants must be destroyed at approved ODS destruction facilities (plasma arc, high-temperature incineration >1100°C). F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 prohibits any reuse of ODS refrigerants. Destruction certificate provides compliance evidence for operator records under F-Gas reporting requirements.
These are the established routes for EWC 14 06 05. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Recover refrigerant during HVAC service and decommissioning using F-Gas certified equipment and personnel
Reclaim recovered HFC refrigerants to AHRI 700 specification for re-sale as reclaimed refrigerant
Recover and re-distil agricultural aerosol solvent and propellant waste
Destroy ODS refrigerants at approved plasma arc or high-temperature incineration facility
Sectors that valorise EWC 14 06 05 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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