HP Codes: Hazardous Property Codes Lookup (HP1 to HP15)
HP codes are the 15 hazardous property codes, from HP1 explosive to HP15 waste capable of exhibiting a hazardous property, used to describe why a waste is hazardous. Use the lookup below to find each code's meaning and how it's recorded on consignment notes and digital waste tracking.
What HP Codes Are
HP codes are the 15 hazardous property codes used to describe why a waste is hazardous. Each code, from HP1 to HP15, represents a different type of hazard, such as being flammable, toxic or infectious.
If a waste has one or more hazardous properties, it's hazardous waste. You'll see HP codes on hazardous waste consignment notes, in waste classification assessments, and in the hazardous waste details you record for digital waste tracking.
HP1 to HP15 Lookup
| Code | Hazardous property | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| HP1 | Explosive | Can explode through chemical reaction, producing gas at a temperature, pressure and speed that causes damage |
| HP2 | Oxidising | Can cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials, usually by giving off oxygen |
| HP3 | Flammable | Liquids, solids or gases that can catch fire easily |
| HP4 | Irritant (skin irritation and eye damage) | Can cause skin irritation or damage to the eyes |
| HP5 | Specific target organ toxicity / aspiration toxicity | Can cause damage to specific organs, or harm if inhaled into the lungs |
| HP6 | Acute toxicity | Can cause harmful effects after a single exposure by mouth, skin or breathing |
| HP7 | Carcinogenic | Can cause cancer or increase its likelihood |
| HP8 | Corrosive | Can cause skin corrosion |
| HP9 | Infectious | Contains viable micro-organisms or their toxins known to cause disease |
| HP10 | Toxic for reproduction | Can harm sexual function, fertility or development of offspring |
| HP11 | Mutagenic | Can cause changes to genetic material |
| HP12 | Release of an acute toxic gas | Releases acutely toxic gases in contact with water or an acid |
| HP13 | Sensitising | Can cause allergic reactions through skin contact or breathing |
| HP14 | Ecotoxic | Presents immediate or delayed risks to the environment |
| HP15 | Capable of exhibiting a hazardous property not displayed by the original waste | Can develop a hazardous property later, for example through reaction or leaching |
Tool: Search the table by code or keyword, for example "flammable" or "HP9".
How HP Codes Link to EWC Codes
The List of Wastes gives each waste a 6-digit EWC code. Hazardous codes are marked with an asterisk (*). Some wastes are absolute hazardous, always hazardous. Others are mirror entries, where a hazardous and a non-hazardous code exist for similar waste, and you need to assess whether the waste has any hazardous properties to choose the right one.
That assessment is where HP codes come in. If the waste has any of the properties HP1 to HP15 above the relevant thresholds, use the hazardous code and record which properties apply. Look up codes with our free EWC code checker.
Recording Hazardous Properties for Defra
When a receiving site reports hazardous waste through digital waste tracking, it needs to record hazardous details, including the hazardous properties and information on hazardous components where required. Make sure your consignment notes and acceptance records hold HP codes in a structured way, so they can be added to the Defra record automatically.
Our apps store HP codes against each hazardous waste stream and carry them through from consignment note to Defra submission.
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