Affaldskoder

Affaldskoder are standardized identifiers used in Denmark to classify waste streams. They are essential for how waste is handled, transported, tracked, and reported. The system is aligned with the European List of Waste (LoW) and is maintained by Danish environmental authorities, ensuring consistent communication between producers, waste handlers, and treatment facilities.

The codes have a hierarchical structure and are usually presented as six digits grouped into three two-digit blocks (often written as xx xx xx). This allows broad categories to be refined into specific subcategories, describing waste streams more precisely and, where applicable, indicating hazardous properties. The Danish adaptation preserves the core LoW codes while allowing national additions for local needs.

Use and implications: when waste is generated or sorted, the responsible party determines the affaldskode that best describes the waste. The code guides sorting and transport requirements, informs the choice of treatment (recycling, energy recovery, or disposal), and is used in reporting to authorities. It commonly appears on transport documents and in waste declarations and registries.

Relation to EU and national practice: Denmark uses LoW-based codes as part of EU-aligned waste management rules. The codes are updated with EU revisions, and national guidance helps enforce correct classification in practice.

Finding codes: Official lists are published by Miljøstyrelsen (the Danish Environmental Protection Agency) and Danish waste databases. Updates occur whenever the LoW is revised, and the agency provides current references and guidance for correct classification.