EWC Code
End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~8–9 million vehicles/year EU
Valorisation Range
€100–600/tonne (steel scrap; catalytic converter PGMs premium)
Primary Route
Steel Scrap Recovery
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Get contacts for EWC 16 01EWC 16 01 is the parent chapter for end-of-life vehicle (ELV) waste streams, arising from depollution, dismantling, shredding and separation of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and off-road machinery. EU Directive 2000/53/EC on ELVs mandates a 95% reuse and recovery target and 85% reuse and recycling target by vehicle weight — with steel, aluminium and catalytic converter PGMs (platinum group metals) as the primary value streams.
The ELV processing sequence at authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) begins with depollution (fuel, oil, coolant, refrigerant, airbag pyrotechnics, batteries), followed by selective dismantling of high-value reusable parts (engines, gearboxes, electronics), and bulk shredding of the vehicle hulk. The shredded steel body-in-white (BIW) reaches scrap iron density of 95%+ steel content; the shredder residue (fluff/floc — see EWC 19 10) contains the remaining 15–20% by weight as mixed plastics, rubber, foam and glass.
Catalytic converters represent the highest unit value in the ELV stream. Three-way catalysts contain 1–5 g/unit of platinum group metals (PGMs: Pt, Pd, Rh) worth €50–300+ per unit depending on composition and PGM market prices. NACE 24.41 (precious metal smelters: Umicore, BASF, Johnson Matthey) extract PGMs by pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical routes, achieving >95% PGM recovery rates.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 16 01, ranked by economic value and market depth. Steel Scrap Recovery is the primary route.
Vehicle hulk shredded steel (BIW + body panels): 95%+ ferrous content processed by magnetic separation at shredder plants. ELV steel delivers 7–9 Mt/year into EU EAF mini-mills (NACE 24.10), displacing primary iron ore. Scrap steel value: €180–350/t HMS grade, with premiums for shredded grade.
Spent catalytic converter monoliths processed by specialist PGM smelters (Umicore, Johnson Matthey). Pyrometallurgical base metal smelting collects PGMs into collector alloy for subsequent hydromet refining. Pt+Pd+Rh recovery rate >95%. Converter trading price: €50–300/unit depending on vehicle age and PGM content.
Authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) selectively dismantle reusable parts — engines, gearboxes, alternators, body panels — for direct reuse in vehicle repair (NACE 45.20). Reused parts command 40–70% of new OEM part price. ATF dismantling extends product life and avoids embodied energy of manufacture.
These are the established routes for EWC 16 01. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) performing ELV depollution and selective dismantling under 2000/53/EC
EAF mini-mills consuming shredded steel scrap as primary furnace charge material
PGM smelters recovering platinum, palladium and rhodium from catalytic converter monoliths
Reuse of ATF-dismantled components in vehicle repair and servicing
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 16 01 classification, transport, and treatment.
Mandates 95% reuse/recovery and 85% reuse/recycling by vehicle weight. Producers responsible for free take-back of ELVs at ATF network. Certificate of Destruction (CoD) issued on ELV acceptance — required for vehicle deregistration. Pending revision under Circular Economy package 2024.
ELV Directive Annex II restricts Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr(VI) in new vehicle components since 2003. Pre-restriction vehicles require targeted extraction during depollution. ATFs must demonstrate compliant depollution before hulk shredding.
Electronic control units (ECUs), infotainment systems and HV battery management systems in ELVs fall under both ELV Directive and WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU. Dual reporting obligations apply for ATFs processing electric vehicles (EVs).
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Sectors that valorise EWC 16 01 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 16 01 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 16 01 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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