EWC Code
Insulation materials and asbestos-containing construction materials
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
2 million tonnes/year EU asbestos waste; 12M tonnes insulation
Valorisation Range
€500M specialist asbestos disposal market
Primary Route
Specialist asbestos encapsulation and landfill
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Get contacts for EWC 17 06EWC 17 06 covers insulation materials and asbestos-containing construction materials. Entry 17 06 01* (insulation materials containing asbestos), 17 06 03* (other insulation materials consisting of or containing dangerous substances), 17 06 04 (non-hazardous insulation materials e.g. glass wool, rock wool, EPS/XPS without contaminants), 17 06 05* (construction materials containing asbestos).
Asbestos was extensively used in EU construction from 1950s–1980s in: corrugated roofing sheets (chrysotile), pipe insulation (amosite, crocidolite), floor tiles, fire-resistant board, textured coatings and gaskets. All asbestos types banned in EU since 2005 under Directive 1999/77/EC amending Directive 76/769/EEC. Estimated 60–70% of EU buildings constructed before 1980 contain asbestos materials.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) classified by friability: friable ACMs (pipe lagging, sprayed coatings) present highest fibre release risk; non-friable ACMs (cement roofing sheets, vinyl floor tiles) lower risk when undamaged. All asbestos waste classified hazardous (17 06 01* or 17 06 05*) regardless of friability or fibre type.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 17 06, ranked by economic value and market depth. Specialist asbestos encapsulation and landfill is the primary route.
Licensed asbestos removal contractor removes ACM under controlled conditions (negative pressure enclosure, HEPA filtration, RPE). Waste double-bagged in UN-approved asbestos sacks, labelled and transported to permitted hazardous landfill with asbestos cell. No recovery permitted.
Emerging technology: asbestos fibres destroyed by vitrification at >1450°C converting fibrous structure to inert glassy silicate. Output material no longer classified as asbestos waste. Pilot plants operational in several EU Member States; limited commercial scale capacity.
Non-hazardous mineral wool (glass wool, rock wool) from 17 06 04 recycled by specialist processors back into new mineral wool production or as aggregate. EPS/XPS foam recycled by solvent compaction or extrusion. Clean mineral wool fraction growing as recycling infrastructure develops.
These are the established routes for EWC 17 06. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Licensed asbestos removal contractors (licensed under national asbestos regulations)
Permitted hazardous landfills with asbestos cell accepting packaged ACM waste
Mineral wool recyclers processing clean glass wool and rock wool offcuts
Renovation contractors commissioning asbestos surveys and removals
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 17 06 classification, transport, and treatment.
Asbestos classified carcinogen Cat. 1A. OEL: 0.1 fibres/cm³ (8-hr TWA) under Directive 83/477/EEC as amended. Mandatory air monitoring, medical surveillance and asbestos register. Licensed removal contractors required for all friable ACM work and most non-friable work above threshold.
All six asbestos fibre types prohibited in EU under REACH Annex XVII Entry 6. Ban on manufacture, use and placing on market since 2005. Exemption for legacy installed asbestos pending removal. Imported products must be verified asbestos-free by importer.
Asbestos waste transported under ADR UN 2590 (white asbestos) or UN 2212 (blue/brown asbestos) Class 9. Packaging: UN-approved fibre-reinforced bags or steel drums. Packages marked with asbestos hazard symbol. Mixed loads with food prohibited. Driver asbestos awareness training required.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 17 06 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 17 06 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 17 06 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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