EWC Code
Mixed metals
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
~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 04 07EWC 17 04 07 is a specific sub-code under EWC 17 04 — Metals (including their alloys) from construction and demolition waste. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 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 07, ranked by economic value and market depth.
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 07. 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
Common materials that take EWC 17 04 07 depending on where the waste arises.
Dedicated waste-stream pages covering EWC 17 04 07 — pricing, buyer industries and valorisation routes.
Sectors that valorise EWC 17 04 07 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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