EWC Code
Wastes from aerobic treatment of solid waste
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
25 million tonnes/year EU composting and MBT output
Valorisation Range
€900M compost and digestate market
Primary Route
Land application (quality compost)
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Get contacts for EWC 19 05EWC 19 05 covers wastes from aerobic treatment of solid waste, primarily composting and mechanical biological treatment (MBT). Sub-entries: 19 05 01 (non-composted fraction of municipal and similar waste), 19 05 02 (non-composted fraction of animal and vegetable waste), 19 05 03 (off-specification compost), 19 05 99 (wastes not otherwise specified).
Composting processes produce compost (mature, stabilised organic matter) as the primary output and rejects (non-biodegradable fraction, oversize) as the waste output classified under 19 05. Off-specification compost (19 05 03) arises when the composting process fails to meet quality standards — insufficient temperature for pathogen kill, high heavy metal content from contaminated input, or excessive physical contaminants (plastics, glass).
MBT facilities combine mechanical sorting (separation of recyclable and combustible fractions) with biological treatment (composting or anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction). The residual stabilised biological output (SBO) from MBT has restricted landfill use in some Member States; it does not qualify as compost under national compost quality standards due to contamination and lower maturity.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 19 05, ranked by economic value and market depth. Land application (quality compost) is the primary route.
On-specification compost meeting national compost quality standards applied to agricultural land, land reclamation and horticulture. Compost displaces mineral fertiliser and improves soil structure. Meeting end-of-waste criteria under national frameworks removes waste classification.
Non-biodegradable composting rejects and off-specification compost with excessive contaminants disposed at non-hazardous landfill. Organic content of stabilised MBT output may reduce landfill gas generation relative to untreated municipal waste — relevant to Landfill Directive organic diversion targets.
Non-composted organic fractions (19 05 01, 19 05 02) may be retreated in anaerobic digestion to recover energy as biogas before final disposal of digestate. AD prior to landfill reduces biodegradable waste landfill tonnage contributing to Landfill Directive targets.
These are the established routes for EWC 19 05. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Agricultural land application of quality compost as soil improver
MBT and composting facility operators managing reject and off-spec fractions
Non-hazardous landfill accepting composting rejects and stabilised MBT output
Anaerobic digestion facilities recovering biogas from composting organic fractions
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 19 05 classification, transport, and treatment.
WFD amendment (Directive 2018/851) requires separate collection of biowaste by 2024 across EU. Separately collected biowaste composted or digested produces higher quality outputs with lower contamination than mixed waste treatment. Compost quality directly depends on input stream purity.
Landfill Directive requires progressive reduction of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill: 35% of 1995 levels by 2016. MBT stabilised outputs contribute to meeting targets where national definition includes SBO as "treated" waste. Several MS challenged on whether MBT alone constitutes sufficient pre-treatment.
Compost applied to agricultural land subject to Nitrates Directive restrictions on application near watercourses, in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and during closed periods. Compost nitrogen content must be accounted in farm nutrient management plan. Organic N count against 170 kg N/ha limit in NVZs.
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Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 19 05 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 19 05 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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