EWC Code
Vitrified waste and wastes from vitrification
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
200,000 tonnes/year EU vitrified waste
Valorisation Range
€80M vitrified product aggregate market
Primary Route
Secondary aggregate (vitrified product)
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Get contacts for EWC 19 04EWC 19 04 covers vitrified waste produced by high-temperature melting of waste into a glassy (amorphous) matrix, and wastes arising from the vitrification process itself. Sub-entries: 19 04 01 (vitrified waste — the glassy product), 19 04 02* (fly ash and other flue gas treatment wastes from vitrification), 19 04 03* (non-vitrified solid phase) and 19 04 04 (aqueous liquid wastes from vitrification).
Vitrification converts hazardous contaminants (heavy metals, organics, radionuclides) into a chemically durable glass matrix with very low leachability. The glassy product (19 04 01) is typically classified non-hazardous as contaminants are immobilised within the silicate network. Plasma vitrification operates at 1300–1600°C; the high temperature also destroys organic contaminants including dioxins and PCBs.
Nuclear waste vitrification — encapsulating high-level radioactive liquid waste in borosilicate glass — is the primary application for long-lived radionuclides. Industrial waste vitrification processes municipal solid waste fly ash, contaminated soils and hazardous sludges into inert glassy aggregate with civil engineering applications.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 19 04, ranked by economic value and market depth. Secondary aggregate (vitrified product) is the primary route.
Non-hazardous vitrified product crushed and graded for use as secondary aggregate in road construction, drainage and concrete. Very low leachability makes vitrified aggregate suitable for sensitive applications where conventional recycled aggregate would not be accepted.
High-level nuclear waste vitrified in borosilicate glass canisters stored in interim retrievable storage pending deep geological repository (DGR) acceptance. DGR programmes under development in Finland, Sweden and France. No current EU-wide DGR operational.
Non-vitrified residues (19 04 03*) and fly ash from vitrification process (19 04 02*) disposed at hazardous landfill. These secondary wastes concentrate impurities separated from the vitrification process.
These are the established routes for EWC 19 04. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Plasma vitrification facilities accepting hazardous waste for high-temperature treatment
Road construction accepting vitrified aggregate as durable secondary aggregate
Nuclear waste management organisations managing vitrified high-level waste
Vitrified product incorporated in specialised concrete applications
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 19 04 classification, transport, and treatment.
Vitrified high-level radioactive waste managed under Euratom Directive on responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. Member States must have national programme including policy for DGR. Interim storage at vitrification facilities subject to national nuclear regulatory approval.
Vitrified product (19 04 01) classified non-hazardous where leachate testing demonstrates contaminant concentrations below HP thresholds. Where classification as non-hazardous waste is confirmed, vitrified product may achieve end-of-waste status under aggregate criteria if physical properties are met.
Industrial plasma vitrification facilities treating hazardous waste regulated under IED. High operating temperatures (>1300°C) create stringent energy efficiency requirements. Flue gas from vitrification process treated to IED Chapter IV ELVs including dioxin monitoring. PCDD/F emission limit 0.1 ng TEQ/m³.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 19 04 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 19 04 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 19 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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