EWC Code
Wastes from transport tank, storage tank and barrel cleaning
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
800,000 tonnes/year EU-wide tank cleaning wastes
Valorisation Range
€95M treatment and oil recovery market
Primary Route
Oily water separation and oil recovery
Need verified buyer contacts with location-specific pricing?
Get contacts for EWC 16 07EWC 16 07 covers wastes from cleaning of transport tanks (road, rail, maritime), storage tanks and barrels. Sub-entries reflect prior cargo: 16 07 08* (wastes containing oil), 16 07 09* (wastes containing other dangerous substances), 16 07 99 (non-dangerous residues). Classification determined by previous cargo type and concentration of retained substance.
Tank heels, wash water sludges, scale deposits and chemical residues from last cargo constitute the primary waste fractions. Multi-cargo tank vehicles require classification based on the most hazardous cargo carried since last cleaning certification. ADR regulations govern transport of tank cleaning residues.
Port reception facilities (PRF) under Directive 2019/883/EU (recast of 2000/59/EC) must accept tank cleaning wastes from ships at EU ports without undue delay or excessive cost. Ship-generated tank cleaning residues (slops) classified under MARPOL Annex I for oily wastes or Annex II for noxious liquid substances.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 16 07, ranked by economic value and market depth. Oily water separation and oil recovery is the primary route.
Tank heels and slops with oil content processed through API separators and DAF units. Recovered oil recycled or used as fuel. Separated water treated to discharge consent limits. Typical for petroleum product tank cleaning.
Chemical tank cleaning residues not suitable for oil recovery incinerated at permitted hazardous waste incinerator. Organic chemical residues with high calorific value may qualify as supplementary fuel (SRF) at cement kilns.
Aqueous tank cleaning effluents treated by neutralisation, precipitation and dewatering. Resulting sludges stabilised for hazardous landfill disposal where no recovery route is viable.
These are the established routes for EWC 16 07. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Port reception facilities accepting ship tank cleaning wastes under PRF Directive
Licensed treatment facilities for chemical tank cleaning residues
Co-processing of high-calorific tank cleaning residues in energy-from-waste
Road tanker cleaning stations generating wash water and heel residues
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 16 07 classification, transport, and treatment.
Ships visiting EU ports must deliver tank cleaning wastes (slops, cargo residues) to port reception facilities before departure. PRF operators must accept wastes without undue delay. No-special-fee system for MARPOL Annex I wastes included in port dues at many ports.
Oily tank washing water classified under MARPOL Annex I (petroleum cargo) or Annex II (noxious liquid substance cargo). Discharge limits apply within special areas. Retained on board for delivery to PRF when below discharge limits cannot be met.
Road transport of tank cleaning residues in road tankers classified by prior cargo. UN number and hazard class assigned based on last cargo carried. Tank cleaning certificate required before changing cargo category. Residue-last documentation must accompany transport.
Leave your work email. Our industrial desk sends verified company contacts with location-specific pricing and contract minimums for wastes from transport tank, storage tank and barrel cleaning — not generic benchmarks.
Reviewed by our industrial desk within 1 business day.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 16 07 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 16 07 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
Browse all EWC codes