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Hazardous Waste HP Codes — UK Reference Guide
Search all 16 UK hazardous waste classification properties (HP1–HP15 and HP_POP). Free reference for waste carriers, producers, and compliance managers.
This reference is for guidance. If a waste may exhibit any HP property, seek specialist assessment before classification. Misclassifying hazardous waste as non-hazardous is a criminal offence under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.
16 HP codes
Explosive
Oxidising
Flammable
Irritant — skin and eye irritation
Specific target organ toxicity / Aspiration toxicity
Acute toxic
Carcinogenic
Corrosive
Infectious
Toxic for reproduction
Mutagenic
Release of an acutely toxic gas
Sensitising
Ecotoxic
Waste capable of exhibiting a hazardous property not directly displayed by the original waste
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
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What Are Hazardous Waste HP Codes?
HP codes (Hazardous Properties) are the 16 classification criteria used to determine whether a waste stream is legally hazardous in the UK. Defined under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 and aligned with DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking system, they cover properties from explosive and flammable through to ecotoxic and carcinogenic. For a full walkthrough of what each code means, see our complete guide to HP codes.
A waste only needs to exhibit one HP property to be classified as hazardous. At that point it must be consigned on a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note — not a standard Waste Transfer Note — and carried by a licensed hazardous waste carrier. EWC codes ending with an asterisk (*) indicate waste types where HP codes are likely to apply.
HP Codes Every Waste Carrier Should Know
While all 16 HP codes matter, some are triggered far more frequently in day-to-day UK waste operations:
- HP14 Ecotoxic — one of the most commonly triggered codes. Catches contaminated soils, solvents, and many industrial residues that could harm aquatic or terrestrial organisms.
- HP4 Irritant — applies to many cleaning product, chemical, and laboratory waste streams. Often paired with HP6 for stronger chemical wastes.
- HP6 Acute Toxic — waste containing substances that are toxic if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through skin, even in small quantities.
- HP_POP Persistent Organic Pollutants — waste containing chemicals such as PFOS, PFOA, PCBs or dioxins that persist in the environment. POPs must now be declared even on non-hazardous Waste Transfer Notes under DWT 2026 rules.
HP Codes and Digital Waste Tracking 2026
From October 2026, mandatory Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) requires every hazardous waste movement to be submitted to the DEFRA national tracking system. HP codes are a required field in every DWT consignment note submission — without them, the submission will be rejected.
Businesses using WasteBolt already have HP codes built into their digital consignment note workflow. When HP codes are selected on a note, the DWT submission payload is automatically formatted to DEFRA's specification. See the full POPs chemical list for the substances triggering HP_POP.
HP Codes FAQ.
What are HP codes in waste classification?
HP codes (Hazardous Properties) are 16 criteria used to determine if a waste is hazardous under UK law. They cover properties like explosive, flammable, toxic, carcinogenic, and ecotoxic. A waste exhibiting any one of these properties must be consigned as hazardous.
How many HP codes are there in the UK?
There are 16 HP codes: HP1 through HP15 covering the main hazardous property types, plus HP_POP which specifically addresses Persistent Organic Pollutants. All 16 are listed in the searchable table above.
What happens if I transport hazardous waste without the correct HP codes on the consignment note?
Carrying hazardous waste without a correctly completed consignment note (including HP code declarations) is an offence under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. The Environment Agency can issue fixed penalty notices, stop movements, and pursue prosecution resulting in unlimited fines.
Do HP codes affect Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) submissions?
Yes. From October 2026, mandatory DWT requires HP code classifications to be included in every hazardous waste submission to DEFRA. WasteBolt automatically maps selected HP codes into the correct DWT payload fields.
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