EWC Code
Metals (including their alloys) from construction and demolition waste
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~15–20 Mt/year EU metal C&DW
Valorisation Range
€150–2,800/tonne (grade-dependent: steel to copper)
Primary Route
Scrap Metal Merchant — Direct Resale
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Get contacts for EWC 17 04EWC 17 04 encompasses all metal fractions arising from construction and demolition, including steel reinforcement bar (rebar) and structural steel sections (17 04 05), copper wiring and pipework (17 04 01), aluminium window frames and cladding (17 04 02), lead flashing (17 04 03*), and mixed metals in unmixed or mixed-metal fractions (17 04 07). Metal CDW exhibits the highest material recovery rate of any CDW fraction — exceeding 90% in most EU member states — due to strong commodity market pull and straightforward separation by metallurgical group.
Steel scrap from structural demolition achieves the highest unit volumes. Rebar and sections are sorted by grade (HMS 1/2 or shredded grade) and sold directly to EAF mini-mills at market scrap prices. Copper from building services commands the highest per-tonne value in CDW — Grade A (bare bright) copper wire fetches €6,000–7,500/tonne at LME-referenced prices. Even contaminated copper cable (NACE 38.32) is traded as Grade 1 heavy copper at a discount to bare bright.
Lead flashing (17 04 03*) carries hazardous waste designation — lead is classified as toxic (H6) under Regulation 1357/2014. However, clean lead scrap from demolition is readily recycled by secondary lead smelters at near-primary lead quality. The hazardous classification drives licensed carrier and licensed facility requirements, adding cost but not preventing recovery.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 17 04, ranked by economic value and market depth. Scrap Metal Merchant — Direct Resale is the primary route.
Structural steel, rebar and sections sold to scrap merchants (NACE 38.32) then into EAF steelmaking (NACE 24.10). No processing required beyond sorting by grade. LME-referenced price: HMS 1/2 €180–320/t; heavy melting scrap (HMS) €150–290/t. Demolition contractor scrap revenue offsets project cost.
Copper, aluminium, lead and zinc sorted by metallurgical group. Copper wire stripped, granulated to 3–5mm granules, sold at €5,000–7,500/t (Grade A-B). Aluminium profiles baled and shipped to secondary Al smelters (NACE 24.42). Non-ferrous sorting by hand or optical sorter at CDW recycling yards.
Mixed metal CDW (17 04 07) pre-processed by eddy-current and optical sorting to separate ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless fractions. Residual mixed fraction densimetric-separated. Secondary refining smelters accept mixed lots at a quality discount; pure ferrous and non-ferrous separation achieves 20–40% price premium.
These are the established routes for EWC 17 04. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
EAF mini-mills consuming structural steel scrap as primary furnace charge
Scrap metal merchants, shredder plants and metal recovery facilities processing CDW metal fractions
Secondary aluminium smelters processing aluminium profiles, window frames and cladding
Secondary copper refiners processing copper pipe, wire and granulate from building services
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 17 04 classification, transport, and treatment.
Commission Regulation 333/2011 establishes end-of-waste criteria for iron, steel and aluminium scrap. Compliant scrap exits waste classification when it meets metallurgical quality specifications and is sold with a conformity declaration. CE-marked metal scrap avoids waste carrier licensing overhead.
Lead classified hazardous (H6 toxic) under Waste Regulation 1357/2014. Demolition lead flashing/sheet requires licensed waste carrier, consignment note, and licensed treatment facility. However, clean lead scrap recovery rates exceed 95% at secondary lead smelters — hazardous classification does not impede recycling, only adds administrative cost.
Metal frames and supports from pre-1988 electrical equipment may be contaminated with PCBs from transformer fluid. Sampling required under PCB/PCT Directive 96/59/EC before CDW metal reprocessing. PCB-containing equipment subject to controlled decontamination before scrap sale.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 17 04 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 17 04 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 17 04 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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