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Persistent Organic Pollutants — UK POPs Reference
Search all regulated POPs chemicals under UK waste law — PFOS, PFOA, PCBs, dioxins and more. Free reference for waste carriers and compliance managers.
From October 2026, POPs must be declared on both hazardous consignment notes and non-hazardous Waste Transfer Notes submitted to DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking system — including the chemical code, concentration, and source of components.
17 chemicals
Aldrin
Chlordane
DDT
Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE)
Endrin
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD/HBCD)
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)
Lindane / HCH
Mirex
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)
PFHxS its salts and related compounds
PFOA its salts and related compounds
PFOS its salts and PFOS-F
Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)
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What Are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a class of toxic chemicals that share four critical characteristics: they persist in the environment for years or decades, they bioaccumulate through food chains, they travel long distances from their original source via air, water, and migratory species, and they pose significant health risks — including cancer, reproductive disorders, and developmental problems.
In UK waste management, waste containing POPs above regulatory threshold concentrations must be declared on waste documentation. Under the UK POPs Regulation (2007, as amended), POPs-containing waste cannot simply be landfilled — it must be destroyed or irreversibly transformed so that the POPs content is eliminated.
POPs Most Commonly Found in UK Waste Streams
The following POPs appear most frequently in UK waste compliance contexts:
- PFOS/PFOA Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — found in firefighting foam, industrial wastewater, textiles, and food packaging residues. Among the highest-profile POPs under current UK and international regulation.
- PCB Polychlorinated biphenyls — present in old electrical transformers, capacitors, and building materials from before the 1980s ban. Significant quantities still arise from demolition and refurbishment waste.
- Dioxins Dioxins and furans — arise as unintentional by-products of incineration and industrial combustion. Common in incinerator bottom ash, fly ash, and contaminated soils near legacy industrial sites.
- DDT DDT and related compounds — although banned since the 1970s, DDT persists in soils from legacy agricultural land and can appear in remediation waste streams.
POPs on Non-Hazardous Waste Transfer Notes
One of the most significant changes introduced by Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) 2026 is the requirement to declare POPs on non-hazardous Waste Transfer Notes — not just hazardous consignment notes. If a non-hazardous waste stream contains POPs above threshold concentrations, the DWT submission must include the specific POP chemical code, its concentration, and the source of the POPs components.
WasteBolt supports POPs declarations on both hazardous and non-hazardous notes, with the complete chemical list from this page available as a picker inside the note creation workflow. See the HP_POP code for how POPs interact with hazardous waste classification.
POPs FAQ.
What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in waste?
POPs are a group of toxic chemicals that resist degradation, accumulate in food chains, and travel long distances. In UK waste regulations, waste containing POPs above threshold concentrations must be declared on waste documentation and cannot simply be landfilled — it must be treated to eliminate the POPs content.
Do POPs have to be declared on non-hazardous Waste Transfer Notes?
Yes. Under DWT 2026 requirements, POPs must be declared on non-hazardous WTNs if the waste contains POP substances above threshold concentrations — including the chemical code, concentration, and source of components.
What are the most common POPs in UK waste streams?
The most frequently encountered POPs in UK waste operations are PFOS and PFOA (from firefighting foam and industrial processes), PCBs (from old electrical equipment and transformers), dioxins and furans (from incineration residues), and DDT compounds (from legacy agricultural sites).
How do POPs affect Digital Waste Tracking submissions?
From October 2026, DWT submissions must include the specific POP chemical code, its concentration in the waste, and the source of the POPs components for any waste movement where POPs are present. WasteBolt supports POPs declaration on both hazardous and non-hazardous notes with automatic DWT formatting.
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