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12 01 12* Spent waxes and fats

EWC / List of Waste code · Last checked 21 October 2026 · Applies across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)

Hazardous Absolute hazardous entry

Official description: “spent waxes and fats”

Where it sits: chapter 12 (wastes from shaping and physical and mechanical surface treatment of metals and plastics), section 12 01 (wastes from shaping and physical and mechanical surface treatment of metals and plastics).

What the hazard status means

Waste that matches this description is always hazardous waste, whatever the amount of hazardous substances in it. You do not need to test it to decide whether it is hazardous, but you still need to know its hazardous properties to fill in the paperwork.

Using this code

Write the code on the paperwork when waste is passed on: a waste transfer note for non-hazardous waste, or a consignment note for hazardous waste (called special waste in Scotland).
Choose the code from where the waste came from first (the chapter), then what it is. If a load is mixed, you may need more than one code.
The waste must go to a site whose permit allows that code. A registered carrier can tell you which codes they accept: check a waste carrier.
Businesses have a duty of care to describe their waste correctly.

Other codes in section 12 01

12 01 01 Ferrous metal filings and turnings Not hazardous
12 01 02 Ferrous metal dust and particles Not hazardous
12 01 03 Non-ferrous metal filings and turnings Not hazardous
12 01 04 Non-ferrous metal dust and particles Not hazardous
12 01 05 Plastics shavings and turnings Not hazardous
12 01 06* Mineral-based machining oils containing halogens (except emulsions and solutions) Hazardous
12 01 07* Mineral-based machining oils free of halogens (except emulsions and solutions) Hazardous
12 01 08* Machining emulsions and solutions containing halogens Hazardous
12 01 09* Machining emulsions and solutions free of halogens Hazardous
12 01 10* Synthetic machining oils Hazardous
12 01 13 Welding wastes Not hazardous
12 01 14* Machining sludges containing hazardous substances Hazardous
12 01 15 Machining sludges other than those mentioned in 12 01 14 Not hazardous
12 01 16* Waste blasting material containing hazardous substances Hazardous
12 01 17 Waste blasting material other than those mentioned in 12 01 16 Not hazardous
12 01 18* Metal sludge (grinding, honing and lapping sludge) containing oil Hazardous
12 01 19* Readily biodegradable machining oil Hazardous
12 01 20* Spent grinding bodies and grinding materials containing hazardous substances Hazardous
12 01 21 Spent grinding bodies and grinding materials other than those mentioned in 12 01 20 Not hazardous
12 01 99 Wastes not otherwise specified Not hazardous

This page explains the code in plain English. It is not a classification of your waste. The official List of Waste and the classification guidance decide which code applies, and you are responsible for the code you use.

12 01 12* Spent waxes and fats

What the hazard status means

Using this code

Other codes in section 12 01

Official sources