EWC Code
Laboratory chemicals consisting of or containing dangerous substances
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
400,000 tonnes/year EU-wide
Valorisation Range
€120M secondary raw materials market
Primary Route
Recovery as secondary raw material
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Get contacts for EWC 16 05 06EWC 16 05 06 is a specific sub-code under EWC 16 03 — Off-specification batches and unused products. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 16 03 covers off-specification batches and unused products not meeting quality standards for their intended use. This includes production rejects, expired stock, mislabelled products and pilot-scale outputs that cannot be released to market but retain recoverable content.
Hazardous classification (mirror entry 16 03 03*) applies when the off-specification product itself would be classified as hazardous under CLP Regulation 1272/2008. Non-hazardous 16 03 04 covers inorganic materials; 16 03 05 covers organic materials. Assessment must consider both the base material and any contaminant or degradation product.
Off-spec batches in pharmaceutical and food sectors require specific destruction or denaturation procedures to prevent diversion. Chemical off-spec materials may be recoverable as secondary raw materials if composition can be verified by the receiving operation.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 16 05 06, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Off-spec chemical batches with defined composition returned to production as secondary feedstock. Requires quality verification by receiver; may need re-processing step before incorporation.
Organic off-spec products with calorific value incinerated in permitted facilities under IED Chapter IV. Pharmaceutical batches typically require incineration to prevent API release to environment.
Inorganic off-spec batches neutralised, precipitated or stabilised before landfill disposal. Hazardous variants require treatment to meet WAC (waste acceptance criteria) under Landfill Directive.
These are the established routes for EWC 16 05 06. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Accepts chemical off-spec batches as secondary feedstock where composition verified
Treatment and disposal of hazardous off-spec pharmaceutical and chemical batches
Off-spec surfactant batches reprocessed into lower-grade cleaning formulations
Material recovery from inorganic off-spec batches for secondary markets
Common materials that take EWC 16 05 06 depending on where the waste arises.
Sectors that valorise EWC 16 05 06 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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