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  • Glossary item | Last updated: 20 Mar 2025

Secondary waste

Bioeconomy

Secondary waste is waste generated from different sources and of different nature, i.e. waste generated in a process that is known as a waste treatment operation; it includes residual materials originating from recovery and disposal operations, such as incineration and composting residues.

Waste categories which consist completely of secondary waste are:
sorting residues (10.3) which include waste from mechanical sorting processes, refuse-derived fuels, non-composted residues from composting, etc.;
mineral wastes from waste treatment (12.8, 13) which cover mainly wastes from waste incineration (bottom ash, slag, fly ash, etc.), mineral fractions from mechanical treatment, and solidified, stabilised or vitrified wastes; wastes from co-incineration are not included here but covered by the category combustion waste;
sludges and liquid wastes from waste treatment (03.3) comprises wastes from chemical-physical treatment of hazardous waste, liquids and sludges from anaerobic waste treatment, landfill leachates, etc.
 
A waste category which contains secondary waste but not completely, the amount of secondary waste is not quantifiable, is:
combustion waste (12.4)
From the economic activities secondary waste is generated, the amount of secondary waste not quantifiable, from:
NACE E38 - Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery.

Eurostat b, Glossary, accessed 2 May 2024

Source category: EC Technical Documents