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Chapter 17 — Construction and demolition wastesSub-code of EWC 17 02 Hazardous

EWC Code

20 01 37

Wood containing dangerous substances

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

Annual Volume (EU)

25 million tonnes/year EU C&D wood, glass and plastic

Valorisation Range

€1.4B secondary materials market

Primary Route

Material recycling (sorting and reprocessing)

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EWC 20 01 37 is a specific sub-code under EWC 17 02 — Wood, glass and plastic. The classification guidance below applies to this waste stream.

EWC 17 02 covers wood (17 02 01), glass (17 02 02) and plastic (17 02 03) from construction and demolition activities, and their hazardous variants: 17 02 04* (glass, plastic and wood containing or contaminated with dangerous substances). Treated timber from demolition may be classified hazardous if creosote, CCA (chromated copper arsenate) or other wood preservative contamination is confirmed.

Construction and demolition wood comprises structural timber, flooring, joinery, shuttering and formwork. Glass includes flat glass from windows and façades, and glass wool insulation offcuts. Plastic covers pipes, cables, profiles, membranes and insulation boards. Mixed contaminated fractions from demolition typically require sorting before classification.

CCA-treated timber (green-tinted, common in pre-1999 construction) is classified as hazardous waste 17 02 04* due to arsenic and chromium content. Creosote-treated railway sleepers and utility poles similarly classified hazardous. EU-wide ban on CCA in consumer applications since 2006 under Biocidal Products Regulation means newer construction timber typically non-hazardous.

Typical Generators

Building demolition contractors
Renovation projects
New construction sites
Shop fitting contractors
Window replacement companies

Disposal & Valorisation Routes

Established valorisation pathways for EWC 20 01 37, ranked by economic value and market depth.

Material recycling (sorting and reprocessing)

Primary

Sorted clean wood chipped for particle board or biomass fuel. Clean flat glass cullet remolten for new glass production. Sorted plastic granulated for recycled plastic products. Sorting quality determines recyclate market acceptance and value.

Energy recovery (wood biomass)

Secondary

Non-recyclable wood waste (mixed, contaminated or small fractions) used as biomass fuel in wood chip boilers or co-fired in cement kilns. Treated wood requires specialised co-incineration under IED Chapter IV with appropriate emission controls.

Landfill (inert or non-hazardous cell)

Backstop

Inert glass and clean plastic rubble landfilled at inert waste facilities. Mixed contaminated C&D materials to non-hazardous landfill. CCA timber and other hazardous treated wood to hazardous landfill under Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC.

These are the established routes for EWC 20 01 37. 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
Manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels

Clean demolition wood chips as secondary raw material for particle board

02
Manufacture of flat glass

Clean flat glass cullet accepted as secondary raw material for glass furnace

03
Manufacture of plastic plates, sheets and tubes

Sorted clean plastic from C&D for granulation and recycled plastic products

04
Recovery of sorted materials

C&D material recycling depots sorting wood, glass and plastic for secondary markets

Materials Classified Under This Code

Common materials that take EWC 20 01 37 depending on where the waste arises.

Industries That Use This Waste

Sectors that valorise EWC 20 01 37 as an input material or secondary raw material.

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