EWC Search Facility

This EWC Search Facility was developed using the EA Thesaurus. This document is no longer in use and the EA points out that those responsible for applying an EWC code must ensure they have considered the hierarchy steps to ensure they select the right code. If you have any queries on EWC Codes, please contact the EA for their advice on 08708 506 506.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide either free advice or regulatory interpretations.

Instructions for use

The EWC Search Facility offers three options to identify the right code:

1. You may try the Chapter option to go through the process of identifying the right chapter, sub-chapter then code. Please follow the Guidelines laid out below for this process. When you have identified the right code, you may click on the text Description to show the thesaurus entries related to the code. If you then click on ‘Select’ to save the code, you can go through the process again to identify another code.
2. You may try to identify the waste within a particular Category of wastes. This offers a range of potential codes from different chapters within each group. Please follow the process in 1. above to see thesaurus entries and to save a code.
3. You may try the thesaurus Text search by entering a description of your waste to see if the EA have identified it against a specific code. Please enter a description eg ‘food’ or ‘tarmac’ and click ‘submit’. Then click on the most appropriate thesaurus description to identify the relevant code(s).
4. If handling WEEE, you should consider the POPs guidance detailed in the EA Guidelines tab.