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17 05 03* Soil and stones containing hazardous substances

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

Hazardous Mirror entry (hazardous side)

Official description: “soil and stones containing hazardous substances”

Where it sits: chapter 17 (construction and demolition wastes (including excavated soil from contaminated sites)), section 17 05 (soil (including excavated soil from contaminated sites), stones and dredging spoil).

In plain English

Soil and stones that contain hazardous substances, for example soil contaminated with oil or fuel.

What the hazard status means

This is one half of a “mirror” pair. Use this hazardous code if the waste contains hazardous substances above the thresholds, or has hazardous properties. You must assess the waste first, usually by knowing exactly what it is made of or by sampling and testing it.

Its mirror entry

17 05 04 Soil and stones other than those mentioned in 17 05 03 Not hazardous

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 17 05

17 05 04 Soil and stones other than those mentioned in 17 05 03 Not hazardous
17 05 05* Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances Hazardous
17 05 06 Dredging spoil other than those mentioned in 17 05 05 Not hazardous
17 05 07* Track ballast containing hazardous substances Hazardous
17 05 08 Track ballast other than those mentioned in 17 05 07 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.