Statistical classification of economic activities NACE 2.1 version

This class includes the processing of metal and non-metal waste, including scrap and other articles into secondary raw materials.

Also included is the recovery of materials from waste streams in the form of: (1) separating and sorting recoverable materials from non-hazardous waste streams; or (2) separating and sorting of commingled recoverable materials (for example, paper, plastics, used beverage cans and metals) into distinct categories.

Examples of the mechanical or chemical transformation processes that are undertaken include:
- mechanical crushing and shredding of metal waste (e.g. from used cars, washing machines or motorcycles)
- mechanical reduction of large iron pieces (e.g. railway wagons)
- recovery of iron from clinker
- reclaiming metals out of photographic waste (e.g. fixer solution or photographic films and paper)
- dismantling of wrecks of any type (automobiles, ships, computers, televisions and other equipment) for materials recovery
- producing of rubber powder from rubber waste and scrap, including decontamination, division (elimination) of fractions and devulcanising
- sorting and mechanical processing (e.g. cleaning, grinding) of plastics to produce secondary raw materials
- processing (ageing, cleaning, sorting) of incineration bottom ash into secondary raw materials (metals, aggregates)
- crushing, cleaning and sorting of glass
- crushing, cleaning and sorting of other waste (e.g. demolition waste to obtain secondary raw materials)
- processing of food, beverage and tobacco waste and residual substances into secondary raw materials
- recovery of waste oil, processing of used cooking oils and fats into secondary raw materials
- extraction of silver from waste chemicals, other than by electrolytic refining
- recovery of phosphorus from the incineration of sewage sludge
- recovery of textile and clothing products by mechanical, thermal or chemical processes
- production of waste compost
- production of biogas from waste, not for the purpose of gas or energy supply

This class excludes:
- manufacture of new final products from secondary raw materials, whether or not self-manufactured (e.g. spinning yarn from garnetted stock, making pulp from paper waste, retreading tyres or the production of metal from metal scrap), see corresponding classes in section C
- reprocessing of nuclear fuels, see 20.13
- remelting of plastics to produce granulates or compounds, see 20.16
- remelting ferrous waste and scrap, see 24.10
- production of biogas from waste for gas supply, see 35.21
- energy recovery during waste thermal treatment, see 38.22
- disposal of waste without recovery and treatment prior to disposal, see 38.3
- wholesale of recoverable materials, see 46.87

This class includes pretreatment of waste for energy recovery, conversion of waste materials (for example, into usable heat or electricity), through a variety of processes, which include thermal treatment.
This class also includes the activities of waste-to-energy plants.
This class excludes:
- landfill gas recovery for gas supply, see 35.21

This class includes:
- preparation of sewage sludge for land treatment resulting in benefits to agriculture or ecological improvement
- preparation of non-hazardous waste for reclamation in excavated areas or for engineering purposes in landscaping

This class excludes:
- production of biogas from sewage sludge, see 35.21
- back-filling without related preparation activities (e.g. preparation of non-hazardous waste for engineering purposes in landscaping), see division 42