Search Legislation

Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (Text with EEA relevance)

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

More Resources

Close

This is a legislation item that originated from the EU

After exit day there will be three versions of this legislation to consult for different purposes. The legislation.gov.uk version is the version that applies in the UK. The EU Version currently on EUR-lex is the version that currently applies in the EU i.e you may need this if you operate a business in the EU.

The web archive version is the official version of this legislation item as it stood on exit day before being published to legislation.gov.uk and any subsequent UK changes and effects applied. The web archive also captured associated case law and other language formats from EUR-Lex.

Status:

EU Directives are being published on this site to aid cross referencing from UK legislation. After IP completion day (31 December 2020 11pm) no further amendments will be applied to this version.

[F1ANNEX III U.K. PROPERTIES OF WASTE WHICH RENDER IT HAZARDOUS

[HP 1] Explosive:

waste which is capable by chemical reaction of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings. Pyrotechnic waste, explosive organic peroxide waste and explosive self-reactive waste is included.

When a waste contains one or more substances classified by one of the hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes shown in Table 1, the waste shall be assessed for HP 1, where appropriate and proportionate, according to test methods. If the presence of a substance, a mixture or an article indicates that the waste is explosive, it shall be classified as hazardous by HP 1.

Table 1: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 1:

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s)
Unst. Expl. H 200
Expl. 1.1 H 201
Expl. 1.2 H 202
Expl. 1.3 H 203
Expl. 1.4 H 204
Self-react. A H 240
Org. Perox. A
Self-react. B H 241
Org. Perox. B
[HP 2] Oxidising:

waste which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials.

When a waste contains one or more substances classified by one of the hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes shown in Table 2, the waste shall be assessed for HP 2, where appropriate and proportionate, according to test methods. If the presence of a substance indicates that the waste is oxidising, it shall be classified as hazardous by HP 2.

Table 2: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 2:

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s)
Ox. Gas 1 H 270
Ox. Liq. 1 H 271
Ox. Sol. 1
Ox. Liq. 2, Ox. Liq. 3 H 272
Ox. Sol. 2, Ox. Sol. 3
[HP 3] Flammable:
flammable liquid waste

liquid waste having a flash point below 60 °C or waste gas oil, diesel and light heating oils having a flash point > 55 °C and ≤ 75 °C;

flammable pyrophoric liquid and solid waste

solid or liquid waste which, even in small quantities, is liable to ignite within five minutes after coming into contact with air;

flammable solid waste

solid waste which is readily combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction;

flammable gaseous waste

gaseous waste which is flammable in air at 20 °C and a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa;

water reactive waste

waste which, in contact with water, emits flammable gases in dangerous quantities;

other flammable waste

flammable aerosols, flammable self-heating waste, flammable organic peroxides and flammable self-reactive waste.

When a waste contains one or more substances classified by one of the following hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes shown in Table 3, the waste shall be assessed, where appropriate and proportionate, according to test methods. If the presence of a substance indicates that the waste is flammable, it shall be classified as hazardous by HP 3.

Table 3: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 3:

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s)
Flam. Gas 1 H220
Flam. Gas 2 H221
Aerosol 1 H222
Aerosol 2 H223
Flam. Liq. 1 H224
Flam. Liq.2 H225
Flam. Liq. 3 H226
Flam. Sol. 1 H228
Flam. Sol. 2
Self-react. CD H242
Self-react. EF
Org. Perox. CD
Org. Perox. EF
Pyr. Liq. 1 H250
Pyr. Sol. 1
Self-heat.1 H251
Self-heat. 2 H252
Water-react. 1 H260

Water-react. 2

Water-react. 3

H261
[HP 4] Irritant — skin irritation and eye damage:

waste which on application can cause skin irritation or damage to the eye.

When a waste contains one or more substances in concentrations above the cut-off value, that are classified by one of the following hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes and one or more of the following concentration limits is exceeded or equalled, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 4.

The cut-off value for consideration in an assessment for Skin corr. 1A (H314), Skin irrit. 2 (H315), Eye dam. 1 (H318) and Eye irrit. 2 (H319) is 1 %.

If the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified as Skin corr. 1A (H314) exceeds or equals 1 %, the waste shall be classified as hazardous according to HP 4.

If the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified as H318 exceeds or equals 10 %, the waste shall be classified as hazardous according to HP 4.

If the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified H315 and H319 exceeds or equals 20 %, the waste shall be classified as hazardous according to HP 4.

Note that wastes containing substances classified as H314 (Skin corr.1A, 1B or 1C) in amounts greater than or equal to 5 % will be classified as hazardous by HP 8. HP 4 will not apply if the waste is classified as HP 8.

[HP 5] Specific Target Organ Toxicity (STOT)/Aspiration Toxicity:

waste which can cause specific target organ toxicity either from a single or repeated exposure, or which cause acute toxic effects following aspiration.

When a waste contains one or more substances classified by one or more of the following hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes shown in Table 4, and one or more of the concentration limits in Table 4 is exceeded or equalled, the waste shall be classified as hazardous according to HP 5. When substances classified as STOT are present in a waste, an individual substance has to be present at or above the concentration limit for the waste to be classified as hazardous by HP 5.

When a waste contains one or more substances classified as Asp. Tox. 1 and the sum of those substances exceeds or equals the concentration limit, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 5 only where the overall kinematic viscosity (at 40 °C) does not exceed 20.5 mm 2 /s. (1)

Table 4: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents and the corresponding concentration limits for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 5

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s) Concentration limit
STOT SE 1 H370 1 %
STOT SE 2 H371 10 %
STOT SE 3 H335 20 %
STOT RE 1 H372 1 %
STOT RE 2 H373 10 %
Asp. Tox. 1 H304 10 %
[HP 6] Acute Toxicity:

waste which can cause acute toxic effects following oral or dermal administration, or inhalation exposure.

If the sum of the concentrations of all substances contained in a waste, classified with an acute toxic hazard class and category code and hazard statement code given in Table 5, exceeds or equals the threshold given in that table, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 6. When more than one substance classified as acute toxic is present in a waste, the sum of the concentrations is required only for substances within the same hazard category.

The following cut-off values shall apply for consideration in an assessment:

  • For Acute Tox. 1, 2 or 3 (H300, H310, H330, H301, H311, H331): 0.1 %;

  • For Acute Tox. 4 (H302, H312, H332): 1 %.

Table 5: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents and the corresponding concentration limits for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 6

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s) Concentration limit

Acute Tox.1 (Oral)

Acute Tox. 2 (Oral)

Acute Tox. 3 (Oral)

Acute Tox 4 (Oral)

Acute Tox.1 (Dermal)

Acute Tox.2 (Dermal)

Acute Tox. 3 (Dermal)

Acute Tox 4 (Dermal)

Acute Tox 1 (Inhal.)

Acute Tox.2 (Inhal.)

Acute Tox. 3 (Inhal.)

Acute Tox. 4 (Inhal.)

H300

H300

H301

H302

H310

H310

H311

H312

H330

H330

H331

H332

0,1 %

0,25 %

5 %

25 %

0,25 %

2,5 %

15 %

55 %

0,1 %

0,5 %

3,5 %

22,5 %

[HP 7] Carcinogenic:

waste which induces cancer or increases its incidence.

When a waste contains a substance classified by one of the following hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes and exceeds or equals one of the following concentration limits shown in Table 6, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 7. When more than one substance classified as carcinogenic is present in a waste, an individual substance has to be present at or above the concentration limit for the waste to be classified as hazardous by HP 7.

Table 6: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents and the corresponding concentration limits for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 7

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s) Concentration limit
Carc. 1A H350 0,1 %
Carc. 1B
Carc. 2 H351 1,0 %
[HP 8] Corrosive:

waste which on application can cause skin corrosion.

When a waste contains one or more substances classified as Skin corr.1A, 1B or 1C (H314) and the sum of their concentrations exceeds or equals 5 %, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 8.

The cut-off value for consideration in an assessment for Skin corr. 1A, 1B, 1C (H314) is 1.0 %.

[HP 9] Infectious:

waste containing viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known or reliably believed to cause disease in man or other living organisms.

The attribution of HP 9 shall be assessed by the rules laid down in reference documents or legislation in the Member States.

[HP 10] Toxic for reproduction:

waste which has adverse effects on sexual function and fertility in adult males and females, as well as developmental toxicity in the offspring.

When a waste contains a substance classified by one of the following hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes and exceeds or equals one of the following concentration limits shown in Table 7, the waste shall be classified hazardous according to HP 10. When more than one substance classified as toxic for reproduction is present in a waste, an individual substance has to be present at or above the concentration limit for the waste to be classified as hazardous by HP 10.

Table 7: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents and the corresponding concentration limits for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 10

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s) Concentration limit
Repr. 1A H360 0,3 %
Repr. 1B
Repr. 2 H361 3,0 %
[HP 11] Mutagenic:

waste which may cause a mutation, that is a permanent change in the amount or structure of the genetic material in a cell.

When a waste contains a substance classified by one of the following hazard class and category codes and hazard statement codes and exceeds or equals one of the following concentration limits shown in Table 8, the waste shall be classified as hazardous according to HP 11. When more than one substance classified as mutagenic is present in a waste, an individual substance has to be present at or above the concentration limit for the waste to be classified as hazardous by HP 11.

Table 8: Hazard Class and Category Code(s) and Hazard statement Code(s) for waste constituents and the corresponding concentration limits for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 11

Hazard Class and Category Code(s) Hazard statement Code(s) Concentration limit
Muta. 1A, H340 0,1 %
Muta. 1B
Muta. 2 H341 1,0 %
[HP 12] Release of an acute toxic gas:

waste which releases acute toxic gases (Acute Tox. 1, 2 or 3) in contact with water or an acid.

When a waste contains a substance assigned to one of the following supplemental hazards EUH029, EUH031 and EUH032, it shall be classified as hazardous by HP 12 according to test methods or guidelines.

[HP 13] Sensitising:

waste which contains one or more substances known to cause sensitising effects to the skin or the respiratory organs.

When a waste contains a substance classified as sensitising and is assigned to one of the hazard statement codes H317 or H334 and one individual substance equals or exceeds the concentration limit of 10 %, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 13.

[HP 14] [F2 Ecotoxic:

waste which presents or may present immediate or delayed risks for one or more sectors of the environment.

Waste which fulfils any of the following conditions shall be classified as hazardous by HP 14:

  • Waste which contains a substance classified as ozone depleting assigned the hazard statement code H420 in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and the concentration of such a substance equals or exceeds the concentration limit of 0,1 %.

    [c(H420) ≥ 0,1 %]

  • Waste which contains one or more substances classified as aquatic acute assigned the hazard statement code H400 in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and the sum of the concentrations of those substances equals or exceeds the concentration limit of 25 %. A cut-off value of 0,1 % shall apply to such substances.

    [Σ c (H400) ≥ 25 %]

  • Waste which contains one or more substances classified as aquatic chronic 1, 2 or 3 assigned to the hazard statement code(s) H410, H411 or H412 in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified as aquatic chronic 1 (H410) multiplied by 100 added to the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified as aquatic chronic 2 (H411) multiplied by 10 added to the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified as aquatic chronic 3 (H412) equals or exceeds the concentration limit of 25 %. A cut-off value of 0,1 % applies to substances classified as H410 and a cut-off value of 1 % applies to substances classified as H411 or H412.

    [100 × Σc (H410) + 10 × Σc (H411) + Σc (H412) ≥ 25 %]

  • Waste which contains one or more substances classified as aquatic chronic 1, 2, 3 or 4 assigned the hazard statement code(s) H410, H411, H412 or H413 in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and the sum of the concentrations of all substances classified as aquatic chronic equals or exceeds the concentration limit of 25 %. A cut-off value of 0,1 % applies to substances classified as H410 and a cut-off value of 1 % applies to substances classified as H411, H412 or H413.

    [Σ c H410 + Σ c H411 + Σ c H412 + Σ c H413 ≥ 25 %]

Where: Σ = sum and c = concentrations of the substances.]

[HP 15] Waste capable of exhibiting a hazardous property listed above not directly displayed by the original waste .

When a waste contains one or more substances assigned to one of the hazard statements or supplemental hazards shown in Table 9, the waste shall be classified as hazardous by HP 15, unless the waste is in such a form that it will not under any circumstance exhibit explosive or potentially explosive properties.

Table 9: Hazard statements and supplemental hazards for waste constituents for the classification of wastes as hazardous by HP 15

Hazard Statement(s)/Supplemental Hazard(s)
May mass explode in fire H205
Explosive when dry EUH001
May form explosive peroxides EUH019
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement EUH044

In addition, Member States may characterise a waste as hazardous by HP 15 based on other applicable criteria, such as an assessment of the leachate.

[F3Note] U.K.

[ F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] U.K.

[X1Test methods: U.K.

The methods to be used are described in Commission Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 (3) and in other relevant CEN notes or other internationally recognised test methods and guidelines.] ]

(1)

[F1The kinematic viscosity shall only be determined for fluids.]

(2)

[F1 [F2Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 ( OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1 ).] ]

(3)

[F1 [X1 [X1Commission Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 of 30 May 2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) ( OJ L 142, 31.5.2008, p. 1 ).] ] ]

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As adopted by EU): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was first adopted in the EU. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as adopted version that was used for the EU Official Journal
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different versions taken from EUR-Lex before exit day and during the implementation period as well as any subsequent versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation.

The dates for the EU versions are taken from the document dates on EUR-Lex and may not always coincide with when the changes came into force for the document.

For any versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation the date will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. For further information see our guide to revised legislation on Understanding Legislation.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as adopted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources