EWC Code
Spent activated carbon
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume (EU)
10 million tonnes/year EU remediation wastes
Valorisation Range
€1.1B contaminated land remediation market
Primary Route
Ex-situ biological treatment (bioremediation)
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Get contacts for EWC 19 09 04EWC 19 09 04 is a specific sub-code under EWC 19 13 — Wastes from soil and groundwater remediation. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.
EWC 19 13 covers wastes from soil and groundwater remediation activities. Sub-entries: 19 13 01 (solid wastes from soil remediation containing dangerous substances — hazardous), 19 13 02 (non-hazardous solid wastes), 19 13 03* (sludges from soil remediation containing dangerous substances), 19 13 04 (non-hazardous sludges), 19 13 05* (sludges from groundwater remediation containing dangerous substances), 19 13 06 (non-hazardous groundwater remediation sludges), 19 13 07* (aqueous liquid wastes from groundwater remediation containing dangerous substances) and 19 13 08 (non-hazardous aqueous liquid wastes).
Contaminated land remediation generates wastes whose classification depends on contaminant identity and concentration. Common contaminants: petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from fuel storage leaks; chlorinated solvents (TCE, PCE) from industrial sites; PAHs and cyanides from former gas works; heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd) from smelting sites; pesticides and herbicides from agricultural sites. Each contaminant requires HP threshold assessment.
Pump-and-treat groundwater remediation produces large volumes of contaminated groundwater requiring treatment. Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption is common for chlorinated solvents and organics; air stripping for volatile compounds; ion exchange for metals. Spent media from these treatment processes generate secondary wastes under 19 13 05*, 19 13 06, 19 13 07* or 19 13 08.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 19 09 04, ranked by economic value and market depth.
Excavated petroleum-contaminated soil treated in contained windrows or biopiles by engineered bioremediation — aeration, nutrient addition, moisture control. Petroleum hydrocarbons biodegraded by indigenous microorganisms to residual concentrations meeting target cleanup levels. Treated soil reused on-site or disposed as non-hazardous material.
Excavated soil containing volatile chlorinated solvents or PAHs treated by low-temperature thermal desorption (90–350°C) or high-temperature thermal treatment (350–600°C). Volatilised contaminants captured and incinerated or adsorbed to activated carbon. Treated soil returned to site.
Heavily contaminated soil not amenable to cost-effective treatment disposed at permitted hazardous landfill after stabilisation to meet WAC. High metal-content soils from smelter sites and cyanide-contaminated soils from gas works sites typically require this route due to treatment cost and difficulty.
These are the established routes for EWC 19 09 04. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Contaminated land specialists providing ex-situ treatment and waste management
Thermal desorption and hazardous landfill disposal of contaminated soil and sludges
Property developers commissioning brownfield remediation for new construction
Government bodies funding remediation of orphan contaminated land
Sectors that valorise EWC 19 09 04 as an input material or secondary raw material.
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