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Why is accurate use of the EWC important？

Posted Date:2025/4/8 1

The use of EWC codes to describe waste is a legal requirement of the Duty of Care5 for waste which requires the holder of waste to take all reasonable steps to ensure that waste is described in a way that permits its safe handling and management. Transfers of non-hazardous waste must be accompanied by a waste transfer note and transfers of hazardous waste by a special waste consignment note, both of which must include a written description of the waste and appropriate EWC code(s). Correct coding on its own is not sufficient to adequately describe the waste. A clear written description is also necessary to ensure safe onward management of the waste.

Operators of waste management facilities and certain exempt activities are required to submit data returns to SEPA on a quarterly or annual basis. Accurate and consistent reporting on the types of waste produced and managed in Scotland relies almost entirely on the EWC codes reported by these operators. This information is important as it underpins the development of Scottish Government policy, and is used for national and European reporting and to inform decisions on the development of new waste infrastructure. Waste data is also essential to support the Zero Waste Plan and Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources programme and to monitor the targets in these plans.

EWC codes describe waste consistently and, along with an accurate waste description, they are used whenever waste is reported: waste transfer notes, special waste consignment notes and waste data returns received by SEPA.

The electronic capture of data on transfers of non-hazardous waste is now possible through edoc (Electronic Duty of Care). Data in edoc is used to produce reports for waste producers, waste management companies (which in turn may use the information to report to SEPA) and waste regulators so it is essential that these are based on good quality data using accurate EWC codes and descriptions.