Guidance

Construction and demolition waste: how to classify

Waste codes for common construction and demolition waste.

You must classify the waste your business produces before it is collected, disposed of or recovered.

You must do this to identify:

  • if the waste is hazardous or not
  • which controls apply to the movement of the waste – this is to prevent harm to people and the environment

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Insulation and asbestos materials

Waste status Waste code
Insulation containing asbestos Hazardous 170601*
Other insulation containing hazardous substances Hazardous 170603*
Other insulation materials not containing hazardous substances Non-hazardous 170604
Other construction materials containing asbestos Hazardous 170605*

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics

This list excludes asbestos-containing materials. Check the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos.

Waste status Waste code
Concrete Non-hazardous 170101
Bricks Non-hazardous 170102
Tiles and ceramics Non-hazardous 170103
Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances Hazardous 170106*
Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics in mixtures, containing no hazardous substances Non-hazardous 170107

Wood, glass and plastic

This list excludes packaging wastes and domestic type recyclables – check the packaging waste and recyclables classification guide for related codes.

Waste status Waste code
Wood – untreated Non-hazardous 170201
Glass – uncontaminated Non-hazardous 170202
Plastic – excludes packaging waste Non-hazardous 170203
Treated wood, glass, plastic (alone or in mixtures) containing hazardous substances Hazardous 170204*

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar

Waste status Waste code
Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar Hazardous 170301*
Other bituminous mixtures Non-hazardous 170302
Coal tar and tarred products Hazardous 170303*

Metallic waste, including cable

Most waste electrical and telecommunications (non-WEEE) cable contains hazardous substances. To classify it as non-hazardous, you’ll need to do an assessment. Check the packaging waste and recyclables classification guide for instructions.

Waste status Waste code
Copper, bronze and brass Non-hazardous 170401
Aluminium Non-hazardous 170402
Lead Non-hazardous 170403
Zinc Non-hazardous 170404
Iron and steel Non-hazardous 170405
Tin Non-hazardous 170406
Mixed metals Non-hazardous 170407
Metals contaminated with hazardous substances Hazardous 170409*
Cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances Hazardous 170410*
Waste electrical and telecommunications (non-WEEE) cable Hazardous 170410* and 17 04 11

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil

You must be able to prove that your waste does not contain any hazardous substances to classify soil as non-hazardous. You will always need to assess the soil before you transfer it to another person.

The presence of any fragments of asbestos-containing material in the soil means it is mixed hazardous waste. Check the insulation and asbestos materials table for more guidance.

Waste status Waste code
Soil and stones containing hazardous substances Hazardous 170503*
Soil and stones not containing hazardous substances Non-hazardous 170504
Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances Hazardous 170505*
Dredging spoil not containing hazardous substances Non-hazardous 170506

Gypsum

Waste status Waste code
Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances Hazardous 170801*
Gypsum materials not containing hazardous substances Non-hazardous 170802

Cement

Waste status Waste code
Unused or unset cement Hazardous 170903*

Paints and varnishes

Paints and varnishes of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

Waste status Household Industrial or commercial
Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances Hazardous 200127* 080111*
Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances Non-hazardous 200128 080112
Paint or varnish remover Hazardous 080121* 080121*

Paint cans are hazardous - check the packaging waste and recyclables classification guide.

Adhesives and sealants

Adhesives and sealants of a type normally used by householders can be classified under the codes indicated in brackets if separated out from other waste.

Waste status Household Industrial or commercial
Containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances Hazardous 200127* 080409*
Not containing organic solvents or other hazardous substances Non-hazardous 200128 080410

Adhesive or sealant containers are hazardous - check the packaging waste and recyclables classification guide.

How to classify other wastes

Check the guidance on how to classify other common waste types.

Or check the technical guidance on waste, which lists all of the waste codes and how to apply them.

Get advice from a specialist waste contractor if you are not sure what code to use for your waste.

For more information, contact the Environment Agency.

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Updates to this page

Published 21 March 2014
Last updated 13 August 2025 show all updates
  1. Table in section 'Metallic waste, including cable' removed 'persistent organic pollutants (POPs)' from last 2 entries as not applicable.

  2. First published.

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