Disposal and Recovery Codes: R and D Codes Explained
Disposal and recovery codes, known as R and D codes, describe what happens to waste at its destination, from recycling metals (R4) to landfill (D1). Digital waste tracking requires at least one disposal or recovery code for every EWC code you report, so they need to be captured at the gate.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026
Disposal and Recovery Codes: The Basics
Disposal and recovery codes describe what happens to waste at its destination. They come from the Waste Framework Directive, which is retained in UK law, and are split into two groups:
- R codes for recovery operations, where waste is put to use, for example recycled, used as fuel or used to replace other materials
- D codes for disposal operations, where waste is got rid of, for example by landfill or incineration without energy recovery
You'll find them on waste transfer notes, hazardous waste consignment notes, environmental permits and now digital waste tracking records. Digital waste tracking requires at least one disposal or recovery code for every EWC code you report.
R Codes: Recovery Operations
| Code | Recovery operation |
|---|---|
| R1 | Use principally as a fuel or other means to generate energy |
| R2 | Solvent reclamation/regeneration |
| R3 | Recycling/reclamation of organic substances not used as solvents (including composting and other biological transformation) |
| R4 | Recycling/reclamation of metals and metal compounds |
| R5 | Recycling/reclamation of other inorganic materials |
| R6 | Regeneration of acids or bases |
| R7 | Recovery of components used for pollution abatement |
| R8 | Recovery of components from catalysts |
| R9 | Oil re-refining or other reuses of oil |
| R10 | Land treatment resulting in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement |
| R11 | Use of wastes obtained from any of R1 to R10 |
| R12 | Exchange of wastes for submission to any of R1 to R11 |
| R13 | Storage of waste pending any of R1 to R12 (excluding temporary storage pending collection, on the site where it is produced) |
D Codes: Disposal Operations
| Code | Disposal operation |
|---|---|
| D1 | Deposit into or onto land (e.g. landfill) |
| D2 | Land treatment (e.g. biodegradation of liquid or sludgy waste in soils) |
| D3 | Deep injection |
| D4 | Surface impoundment |
| D5 | Specially engineered landfill |
| D6 | Release into a water body except seas/oceans |
| D7 | Release into seas/oceans including sea-bed insertion |
| D8 | Biological treatment resulting in final compounds that are disposed of by D1 to D12 |
| D9 | Physico-chemical treatment resulting in final compounds that are disposed of by D1 to D12 |
| D10 | Incineration on land |
| D11 | Incineration at sea (prohibited) |
| D12 | Permanent storage |
| D13 | Blending or mixing prior to any of D1 to D12 |
| D14 | Repackaging prior to any of D1 to D13 |
| D15 | Storage pending any of D1 to D14 (excluding temporary storage pending collection, on the site where it is produced) |
Choosing the Right Code
The right code depends on what actually happens to the waste at the site that receives it, which should match the activities in that site's permit. A few tips:
Transfer stations
that bulk and send waste on usually use storage codes such as R13 or D15, depending on where the waste is going next.
Metal recyclers
typically use R4.
Composting and AD sites
typically use R3.
Inert recycling
of soils and rubble often uses R5.
Landfills
use D1 or D5.
Energy from waste plants
may use R1 or D10, depending on their energy efficiency status.
If a load is split between treatment routes, it may need more than one code. If in doubt, check your permit or ask your regulator.
Using R and D Codes in Digital Waste Tracking
When you report a receipt of waste, each EWC code on the load must have at least one disposal or recovery code. You may also need to record the weight going to each code where a load is split.
Our apps set sensible defaults for each waste stream on your site, so gatehouse staff don't need to remember codes, while still allowing changes when a load is treated differently. The app checks that every EWC code has a disposal or recovery code before the record is submitted, so Defra doesn't reject it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Official guidance
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