EWC Code
Wastes from shredding of metal-containing waste
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
8 million tonnes/year EU shredder residue
Valorisation Range
€600M shredder residue treatment and recovery market
Primary Route
Advanced ASR treatment (material recovery)
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Get contacts for EWC 19 10EWC 19 10 covers wastes from shredding of metal-containing waste. Sub-entries: 19 10 01 (iron and steel waste), 19 10 02 (non-ferrous waste), 19 10 03* (fluff-light fraction and dust containing dangerous substances — shredder residue), 19 10 04 (non-hazardous fluff-light fraction and dust), 19 10 05* (other fractions containing dangerous substances), 19 10 06 (non-hazardous other fractions).
Automotive shredder residue (ASR) — also called shredder fluff or fluff-light fraction — is the complex mixture of plastics, rubber, foam, glass, fibres, cables and fines remaining after ferrous and non-ferrous metal separation from end-of-life vehicles. ASR contains heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn), PCBs from older vehicles, and chlorinated polymers (PVC). It is typically classified hazardous (19 10 03*).
End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC requires 85% reuse and recycling of ELV weight by 2015, and 95% reuse and recovery. ASR thermal treatment for energy recovery counts towards the 10% energy recovery component of the 95% target. Advanced ASR treatment technologies (sink-float, electrostatic separation, chemical extraction) can recover plastics, glass and metals from the shredder fluff.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 19 10, ranked by economic value and market depth. Advanced ASR treatment (material recovery) is the primary route.
ASR processed by density separation (sink-float), eddy current for Al/Cu recovery, electrostatic separation for PVC vs non-PVC plastics, near-infrared sorting for PP/PE/ABS recovery. Recovered materials sold to secondary materials markets. Metal-rich fines routed to non-ferrous smelters.
ASR with calorific value ≥12 MJ/kg processed as SRF or directly co-processed in cement kilns. Cement kiln co-processing provides high-temperature destruction of organics and mineral fraction absorbed into clinker. Displaces primary fuel (coal); metals incorporated into clinker mineral phase.
ASR classified 19 10 03* (hazardous) and not amenable to recovery or energy recovery disposed at hazardous landfill under WAC. Pre-treatment to meet WAC typically required. Landfill represents lowest hierarchy option and a cost burden incentivising investment in ASR treatment technology.
These are the established routes for EWC 19 10. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
ASR advanced treatment facilities recovering plastics, glass and metals
Cement kilns co-processing ASR as alternative fuel and raw material
Non-ferrous smelters recovering copper and zinc from metal-rich ASR fines
Hazardous ASR disposal and pre-treatment for landfill acceptance
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 19 10 classification, transport, and treatment.
ELV Directive requires 85% reuse/recycling and 95% reuse/recovery of ELV weight from 2015. ASR energy recovery counts towards the 10% energy recovery component. Shredder operators must report ASR arisings to national authorities. Proposals for revised ELV Regulation (2023) will increase targets and impose stricter ASR management requirements.
ASR contains plastics from vehicles manufactured before 2003 when SVHC restrictions were less stringent. Di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP) and other phthalates may be present in PVC components. ASR recyclers must assess SVHC content for material recovery pathways.
ASR co-processing in cement kilns regulated under IED Chapter IV co-incineration provisions. ELV for PCDD/F 0.1 ng TEQ/m³; HCl, HF, heavy metals monitored. Cement kiln ASR substitution rate limited by clinker quality constraints; typically 5–30% of thermal input.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 19 10 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 19 10 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 19 10 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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