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Chapter 18 — Wastes from human or animal health care and/or related research Non-Hazardous

EWC Code

18 02

Wastes from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals

EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000

Annual Volume

120,000 tonnes/year EU veterinary and animal research waste

Valorisation Range

€180M specialist disposal market

Primary Route

Incineration (Category 1 ABP processing)

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Waste Classification

EWC 18 02 covers wastes from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals. Parallels 18 01 structure: 18 02 01 (sharps not infectious), 18 02 02* (wastes whose collection and disposal is subject to special requirements to prevent infection), 18 02 03 (non-infectious veterinary waste), 18 02 05* (chemicals containing dangerous substances), 18 02 06 (non-hazardous chemicals), 18 02 07* (cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines), 18 02 08 (non-hazardous medicines).

Animal carcasses from veterinary practices and research facilities are typically managed under Animal By-Products Regulation (ABPR) 1069/2009 rather than EWC classification, unless contaminated with clinical materials. Sharps from livestock farms (syringes, needles for vaccination and treatment) increasingly covered by farm sharps collection schemes.

Research animal carcasses from facilities using Category A biological agents (BSL3/BSL4 pathogens) require autoclaving prior to disposal. Animals exposed to cytotoxic drugs in cancer research carry cytotoxic residue; their excreta and carcasses may require cytotoxic waste management procedures.

Typical Generators

Veterinary practices
Animal research laboratories
Livestock farms with veterinary services
Zoos and wildlife facilities
Abattoirs with veterinary inspection

Disposal & Valorisation Routes

Established valorisation pathways for EWC 18 02, ranked by economic value and market depth. Incineration (Category 1 ABP processing) is the primary route.

Incineration (Category 1 ABP processing)

Primary

Infectious veterinary waste and animal by-products not suitable for rendering incinerated at licensed Category 1 ABP processing plant under ABPR 1069/2009 or clinical waste incinerator under IED. Both routes provide definitive pathogen destruction.

Autoclaving followed by landfill

Secondary

Non-Category-A veterinary infectious waste autoclaved at licensed treatment facility. Validated decontamination reduces to non-infectious status. Treated solid residues disposed as non-hazardous waste; reduces incineration demand.

ABP rendering (Category 2/3)

Backstop

Non-infectious animal carcasses and tissues from veterinary practices without infectious status processed at Category 2 or 3 ABP rendering plants. Rendered products (meat and bone meal, fats) used in energy recovery per ABPR permitted uses.

These are the established routes for EWC 18 02. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.

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NACE Receiving Industries

Primary & secondary off-takers

01
Hazardous waste treatment

Licensed infectious veterinary waste incineration and treatment

02
Veterinary activities

Veterinary practices generating clinical waste requiring managed disposal

03
Processing and preserving of meat

Abattoirs with veterinary inspection waste streams under ABPR

04
Research and experimental development on biotechnology

Animal research laboratories generating controlled laboratory animal waste

Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008

Regulatory Context

Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 18 02 classification, transport, and treatment.

ABPR 1069/2009 — animal by-products classification

Animal carcasses and body parts from veterinary practices classified as Category 1 (specified risk material, infectious agents) or Category 2 (other animal by-products) under ABPR. Category 1 material must be incinerated or pressure-rendered. Overlap with EWC 18 02 resolved by applying ABPR where exclusively animal-origin materials involved.

IED 2010/75/EU — veterinary waste incineration

Infectious veterinary waste incinerated under IED Chapter IV conditions. Temperature ≥850°C with 2 second dwell. Mixed human/animal clinical waste streams subject to same IED ELVs. Category 1 ABP incineration may alternatively occur at ABP-approved plant under ABPR Article 12.

ADR 2023 — veterinary infectious substances

Veterinary infectious waste containing Category B pathogens transported under UN 3291 (regulated medical waste, Class 6.2). Category A zoonotic agents (Foot and Mouth Disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever) transported UN 2900 with full Category A packaging requirements.

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Industries That Use This Waste

Sectors that valorise EWC 18 02 as an input material or secondary raw material.

Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas

Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 18 02 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.

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Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008

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