Tool
Recovery and disposal code lookup
All 13 recovery codes and 15 disposal codes for waste treatment operations
A recovery or disposal code describes the operation applied to waste, such as recycling, storage or landfill. It is different from the EWC code, which classifies the waste itself. Use this list to look up the R and D codes used in waste treatment records and hazardous waste consignment notes.
Source: SEPA's recovery and disposal code reference (PDF, 2008). This is a reference list, not permission to carry out an operation. Check the receiving site's authorisation and applicable regulator guidance.
No codes match that search.
Recovery operations (R codes)
R1Not considered recovery to a final productUse principally as a fuel or other means to generate energy
R2Solvent reclamation/regeneration
R3Recycling/reclamation of organic substances which are not used as solvents (including composting and other biological transformation processes)
R4Recycling/reclamation of metals and metal compounds
R5Recycling/reclamation of other inorganic materials
R6Regeneration of acids or bases
R7Recovery of components used for pollution abatement
R8Recovery of components from catalysts
R9Oil re-refining or other reuses of oil
R10Land treatment resulting in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement
R11Use of wastes obtained from any of the operations numbered R1 to R10
R12Not considered recovery to a final productExchange of wastes for submission to any of the operations numbered R1 to R11
R13Not considered recovery to a final productStorage of wastes pending any of the operations numbered R1 to R12 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where it is produced)
Disposal operations (D codes)
D1Deposit into or onto land, e.g. landfill
D2Land treatment, e.g. biodegradation of liquid or sludgy discards in soils
D3Deep injection, e.g. injection of pumpable discards into wells, salt domes or naturally occurring repositories
D4Surface impoundment, e.g. placement of liquid or sludgy discards into pits, ponds or lagoons
D5Specially engineered landfill, e.g. placement into lined discrete cells which are capped and isolated from one another and the environment
D6Release into a water body, except seas/oceans
D7Release into seas/oceans, including sea-bed insertion
D8Biological treatment resulting in final compounds or mixtures which are discarded by any of the operations numbered D1 to D12
D9Physico-chemical treatment resulting in final compounds or mixtures which are discarded by any of the operations numbered D1 to D12, e.g. evaporation, drying, calcination
D10Incineration on land
D11Incineration at sea
D12Permanent storage, e.g. emplacement of containers in a mine
D13Blending or mixing prior to submission to any of the operations numbered D1 to D12
D14Repackaging prior to submission to any of the operations numbered D1 to D13
D15Storage pending any of the operations numbered D1 to D14 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where it is produced)
Using an operation code correctly
Checkwright validates that an operation code is one of the real D1-D15/R1-R13 codes before a receipt can be submitted to DEFRA. SEPA's reference sheet marks R1, R12 and R13 as "not considered recovery to a final product". That note does not mean these codes are invalid. Choose the code for the actual operation at the receiving site. For consignment notes, see the Environment Agency's completion guidance.