End of waste codes
End of waste (EOW) codes specify outcomes that need to be achieved for a waste to be deemed a resource. It states requirements for the registered resource producer as well as conditions for the use of the resource.
View the list of current EOW codes below.
Where the use of a waste as a resource has been demonstrated to have benefits through sustainable use and negligible environmental risks, the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) may consider developing an EOW code.
A waste producer may supply a waste as a resource under an EOW code only if they:
- have registered with DESI
- can comply with the requirements of the code
- take responsibility for ensuring that the resource supplied to resource users
- meets the criteria and quality characteristics specified in the code
- and
- is used in accordance with the conditions imposed on the use of the resource.
Developing EOW codes
DESI calls for submissions annually for the development of EOW codes. While submissions on all resource types are considered, the decision on whether or not to develop an EOW code is at the discretion of DESI.
Find out more about development of EOW codes, including current draft EOW codes open for public consultation.
Register to operate under an EOW code
A person must register as a resource producer to operate under an EOW code.
If a person is not registered as a resource producer, the material is deemed to still be a waste and must be continued to be managed in accordance with relevant waste management provisions under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Users of the resource do not need to register with DESI unless the EOW code specifically requires notification under the conditions of the EOW code. Penalties may apply if the requirements and/or conditions of an EOW code are not complied with.
To register as a resource producer, or to stop being registered as a resource producer, for an EOW code, use the registered resource producer for an end of waste code notice of registration form.
If the EOW code also requires the proposed user of the resource to notify DESI, use the resource user for an end of waste code notification form.
Current EOW codes
| Approved resource | EOW code reference | Notice of minor amendments* |
|---|---|---|
| Abattoir effluent pond sludge and crust |
ENEW07617019 ESR/2019/5400 (PDF, 329KB) | |
| ACQ treated timber shavings |
ENEW07607119 ESR/2020/5213 (PDF, 328KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Amorphous silica powder |
EOWC010001220 ESR/2022/5975 (PDF, 395KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Associated water (including coal seam gas water) |
ENEW07547018 ESR/2019/4713 (PDF, 388KB) | 10 December 2019 – correct approval date error. 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 18 August 2023 – Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 updated to Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 and fax number removed. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Associated water for irrigation (including coal seam gas water) |
ENEW07546918 ESR/2019/4712 (PDF, 477KB) | 10 December 2019 – correct approval date error. 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 18 August 2023 – Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 updated to Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 and fax number removed. 8 January 2024 – remove requirement to submit to the chief executive and retain records of resource monitoring and management plans. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Biosolids |
ENEW07359617 ESR/2018/4548 (PDF, 555KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Blast furnace slag |
EOWC010001641 ESR/2023/6404 (PDF, 419KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Carbide lime |
EOWC010001052 ESR/2022/5933 (PDF, 329KB) | 13 June 2022 – remove a condition in Section 7 related to approved uses. 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and definition of serious or material environmental harm updated and correction to versioning errors. |
| Chemically treated solid timber |
ENEW07503218 ESR/2019/4933 (PDF, 315KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Coal combustion products |
ENEW07359717 ESR/2018/4549 (PDF, 441KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Coal seam gas drilling mud |
ENEW07543018 ESR/2018/4550 (PDF, 155KB) | 8 October 2019 – Updated to reflect changes to the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Concrete (Liquid washout) |
ENEW07602719 ESR/2020/5249 (PDF, 362KB) | 9 November 2020 correct clerical error in Requirement 6.3 e) vi and x 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Concrete (Returned concrete) |
ENEW07278517 ESR/2020/5247 (PDF, 344KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Concrete (Solid washout) |
ENEW07602819 ESR/2020/5248 (PDF, 345KB) | 9 November 2020 correct clerical error in Requirement 6.3 e) vi and x 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Digestate |
EOWC010001054 ESR/2022/6156 (PDF, 468KB) | 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Dunder |
ENEW07503118 ESR/2019/4934 (PDF, 381KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Ferronickel slag |
ENEW07576219 ESR/2020/5413 (PDF, 327KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Ferrous chloride |
ENEW07530718 ESR/2020/5478 (PDF, 333KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Ferrous sulphate heptahydrate |
ENEW07597919 ESR/2019/5175 (PDF, 367KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Fertiliser wash water and slurry |
ENEW07278417 ESR/2018/4173 (PDF, 309KB) | 16 October 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Fibre cement board |
ENEW07359417 ESR/2021/5858 (PDF, 384KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Foundry sand |
ENEW07359617 ESR/2018/4551 (PDF, 383KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Garnet sand |
EOWC010000731 ESR/2021/5665 (PDF, 333KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Glass fines |
EOWC010001051 ESR/2022/6183 (PDF, 317KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Oyster shells |
ENEW07278317 ESR/2018/4174 (PDF, 122KB) | 28 March 2024 –department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Paunch |
ENEW07597819 ESR/2020/5243 (PDF, 361KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Plasterboard |
ENEW07618819 ESR/2021/5629 (PDF, 372KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Recycled aggregates |
ENEW07604819 ESR/2021/5565 (PDF, 307KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Silica fume |
EOWC010001828 ESR/2023/6357 (PDF, 365KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Spent sulphuric acid |
EOWC010000394 ESR/2021/5637 (PDF, 329KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Sugar refinery clarifier sludge |
ENEW07576119 ESR/2019/5171 (PDF, 356KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Sugar mill by-products |
ENEW07359817 ESR/2018/4440 (PDF, 382KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Tyres (End-of-life tyres) |
ENEW07503018 ESR/2020/5244 (PDF, 698KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Used vegetable oil |
ENEW07611019 ESR/2020/5258 (PDF, 314KB) | 23 June 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
| Water treatment residuals |
ENEW07503318 ESR/2019/4944 (PDF, 337KB) | September 2023 – reflect waste definition moving from Environmental Protection Act 1994 to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. 28 March 2024 – department name and the definition of serious or material environmental harm updated. |
*A minor amendment is an amendment of the code to correct a minor or formal error, or to make another change that is not of substance and does not adversely affect the interests of a registered resource producer or a person who is likely to receive a resource from the registered resource producer. Notices of minor amendments are shown since the last gazetted version of the respective EOW code.
Also consider...
- Find out how EOW codes are developed, and how to comment on current draft EOW codes.
- Learn about EOW approvals.
- Read about the EOW framework.
- Learn about waste tracking obligations.
- Last reviewed: 15 Jan 2024
- Last updated: 15 Apr 2024