EWC Code
Discarded vehicles
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
8 million tonnes/year EU shredder residue
Valorisation Range
€600M shredder residue treatment and recovery market
Primary Route
Advanced ASR treatment (material recovery)
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Get contacts for EWC 16 01 04EWC 16 01 04 is a specific sub-code under EWC 19 10 — Wastes from shredding of metal-containing waste. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 19 10 covers wastes from shredding of metal-containing waste. Sub-entries: 19 10 01 (iron and steel waste), 19 10 02 (non-ferrous waste), 19 10 03* (fluff-light fraction and dust containing dangerous substances — shredder residue), 19 10 04 (non-hazardous fluff-light fraction and dust), 19 10 05* (other fractions containing dangerous substances), 19 10 06 (non-hazardous other fractions).
Automotive shredder residue (ASR) — also called shredder fluff or fluff-light fraction — is the complex mixture of plastics, rubber, foam, glass, fibres, cables and fines remaining after ferrous and non-ferrous metal separation from end-of-life vehicles. ASR contains heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn), PCBs from older vehicles, and chlorinated polymers (PVC). It is typically classified hazardous (19 10 03*).
End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC requires 85% reuse and recycling of ELV weight by 2015, and 95% reuse and recovery. ASR thermal treatment for energy recovery counts towards the 10% energy recovery component of the 95% target. Advanced ASR treatment technologies (sink-float, electrostatic separation, chemical extraction) can recover plastics, glass and metals from the shredder fluff.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 16 01 04, ranked by economic value and market depth.
ASR processed by density separation (sink-float), eddy current for Al/Cu recovery, electrostatic separation for PVC vs non-PVC plastics, near-infrared sorting for PP/PE/ABS recovery. Recovered materials sold to secondary materials markets. Metal-rich fines routed to non-ferrous smelters.
ASR with calorific value ≥12 MJ/kg processed as SRF or directly co-processed in cement kilns. Cement kiln co-processing provides high-temperature destruction of organics and mineral fraction absorbed into clinker. Displaces primary fuel (coal); metals incorporated into clinker mineral phase.
ASR classified 19 10 03* (hazardous) and not amenable to recovery or energy recovery disposed at hazardous landfill under WAC. Pre-treatment to meet WAC typically required. Landfill represents lowest hierarchy option and a cost burden incentivising investment in ASR treatment technology.
These are the established routes for EWC 16 01 04. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
ASR advanced treatment facilities recovering plastics, glass and metals
Cement kilns co-processing ASR as alternative fuel and raw material
Non-ferrous smelters recovering copper and zinc from metal-rich ASR fines
Hazardous ASR disposal and pre-treatment for landfill acceptance
Common materials that take EWC 16 01 04 depending on where the waste arises.
Sectors that valorise EWC 16 01 04 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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