R codes (R1–R13) and D codes (D1–D15) are standardised classifications required on all UK waste documentation — Waste Transfer Notes, consignment notes, Season Ticket dockets, and Digital Waste Tracking submissions. This reference covers every code with its official description and practical examples.
R and D codes are standardised classifications drawn from Annexes I and II of the EU Waste Framework Directive, retained in UK law post-Brexit. They describe the operation that will be performed on a waste stream — whether the waste will be recovered for some useful purpose (R) or finally discarded (D).
UK law does not leave the choice of code open to preference. The waste hierarchy requires that recovery (R codes) is always preferred over disposal (D codes) where it is technically feasible and reasonably practicable. Selecting a D code when an R code was available and practical is a compliance failure that regulators can and do pursue.
Recovery codes (R1–R13)
Waste is recovered for a useful purpose — material recycling, energy generation, composting, or storage pending recovery.
Preferred under the waste hierarchy
Disposal codes (D1–D15)
Waste is finally discarded with no value recovered — landfill, incineration without energy, or storage pending disposal.
Last resort only — justify if used over R
You will need to record an R or D code on every piece of waste documentation that describes a treatment operation:
The waste hierarchy is a legal requirement under Regulation 12 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (and equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland). It sets a priority order for waste management, from most to least preferred:
Prevention
Reduce waste at source — no code applies as no waste is created
Preparing for reuse
Checking, cleaning, and repairing items — waste ceases to be waste once reused
Recycling
R3, R4, R5 — converting waste back into materials or products
Other recovery
R1 — energy recovery where recycling is not feasible
Disposal
D1, D10 — landfill and incineration without energy recovery, as a last resort
These codes indicate that waste will be recovered for a useful purpose. They should be used in preference to D codes wherever the operation is feasible and practicable.
| Code | Official description & notes | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
R1 | Use principally as a fuel or other means to generate energy |
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R2 | Solvent reclamation/regeneration |
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R3Most common | Recycling/reclamation of organic substances not used as solvents (including composting and other biological transformation processes) |
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R4 | Recycling/reclamation of metals and metal compounds |
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R5 | Recycling/reclamation of other inorganic materials |
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R6 | Regeneration of acids or bases |
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R7 | Recovery of components used for pollution abatement |
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R8 | Recovery of components from catalysts |
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R9 | Oil re-refining or other reuses of oil |
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R10 | Land treatment resulting in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement Use R10 only when there is a genuine agricultural or ecological benefit. If no benefit, use D2 instead. |
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R11 | Use of wastes obtained from any of the operations numbered R1 to R10 |
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R12 | Exchange of wastes for submission to any of the operations numbered R1 to R11 |
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R13Storage | Storage of wastes pending any of the operations numbered R1 to R12 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where it is produced) Only use R13 if the waste is definitively destined for a recovery operation (R1–R12). If the intended operation is disposal, use D15. |
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These codes indicate that waste is being finally discarded with no useful value recovered. Use only when R codes are genuinely not feasible or practicable, and document your justification.
| Code | Official description & notes | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
D1Most common | Deposit into or onto land (e.g. landfill) Avoid where an R code is technically feasible and reasonably practicable. |
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D2 | Land treatment (e.g. biodegradation of liquid or sludgey discards in soils) If the land application provides agricultural benefit, use R10 instead. |
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D3 | Deep injection (e.g. injection of pumpable discards into wells, salt domes or naturally occurring repositories) |
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D4 | Surface impoundment (e.g. placement of liquid or sludgey discards into pits, ponds or lagoons) |
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D5 | Specially engineered landfill (e.g. placement into lined discrete cells which are capped and isolated from one another and the environment) |
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D6 | Release into a water body except seas/oceans |
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D7 | Release into seas/oceans including seabed insertion |
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D8 | Biological treatment not specified elsewhere which results in final compounds or mixtures which are discarded by means of D1 to D12 |
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D9 | Physico-chemical treatment not specified elsewhere which results in final compounds or mixtures which are discarded by means of D1 to D12 |
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D10 | Incineration on land If the incineration plant generates energy, use R1 instead of D10. |
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D11 | Incineration at sea |
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D12 | Permanent storage (e.g. emplacement of containers in a mine) |
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D13 | Blending or mixing prior to submission to any of D1 to D12 |
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D14 | Repackaging prior to submission to any of D1 to D13 |
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D15Storage | Storage pending any of D1 to D14 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where it is produced) Only use D15 if the waste is destined for a disposal operation (D1–D14). If intended for recovery, use R13. |
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Selecting the correct code is straightforward if you work through the decision in order:
Step 1 — What will actually happen to the waste?
The code must reflect the operation that will be performed, not what you would prefer it to be. Ask the receiving facility which code applies to their permitted operation — they are best placed to confirm this.
Step 2 — Is the operation a recovery or disposal?
If the waste is being recycled, composted, used as fuel, or stored pending any of those operations — it is recovery. If it is going to landfill, incineration without energy, or storage pending those — it is disposal.
Step 3 — If disposal, can you justify it?
If you are using a D code, you must be able to show that a corresponding R code was not reasonably practicable for this waste type. Consider whether a recycling route exists, whether it is technically feasible, and whether any cost difference is genuinely disproportionate.
Step 4 — Is this storage or a final operation?
If the waste is moving to a transfer station or depot before its final operation, use the storage code (R13 if recovery-bound, D15 if disposal-bound) rather than the code for the eventual final operation.
R13 and D15 are the two storage codes — used when waste is held at a transfer station or intermediate facility before its final operation. The choice between them is determined entirely by what that final operation will be.
R13 — Storage pending recovery
Use when waste is being held temporarily before going to a recovery operation (R1–R12).
Examples:
D15 — Storage pending disposal
Use when waste is being held temporarily before going to a disposal operation (D1–D14).
Examples:
What is the difference between R and D codes?
R codes (R1–R13) indicate waste is being recovered for a useful purpose — recycling, energy generation, or composting. D codes (D1–D15) indicate waste is being finally discarded with no value recovered. UK law requires preferring R codes over D codes wherever reasonably practicable.
What is the most commonly used R code?
R3 (Recycling/reclamation of organic substances) is the most widely used, covering paper recycling, plastic recycling, composting of food and garden waste, and AD digestate operations. If you are unsure which R code to use for a recycling operation, R3 is often the starting point.
When should I use R13 rather than D15?
Use R13 when waste is stored pending a recovery operation (R1–R12). Use D15 when stored pending disposal (D1–D14). The intended final operation determines the storage code — not the nature of the storage itself.
Can I use D1 if recycling is more expensive?
Only if the cost difference is genuinely disproportionate and recycling is not reasonably practicable. The Environment Agency's position is that cost alone is generally insufficient justification. You must also consider technical feasibility and environmental impact. Document your reasoning in case of a challenge.
What happens if I use the wrong code?
Using the wrong R or D code is a compliance failure. It can lead to enforcement action, fines, and — particularly where the mismatch involves hazardous waste — potential prosecution. From October 2026, DWT will make code choices visible to regulators in real-time, making mismatches far easier to identify without physical inspection.
Do I need to use an R or D code on every WTN?
Yes. The recovery or disposal code is a required field on a UK Waste Transfer Note. A WTN without this information is not compliant. On a Season Ticket, the code is recorded on the master document and applies to all dockets drawn against it.
What if the receiving facility uses a different code to what I expected?
The code on the WTN should reflect the actual operation performed by the receiving facility. If the facility tells you their permitted operation is R3 and you had written D1, correct the note before transfer. The receiving facility's permit defines which code applies to their operation.
Related guides
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