# End-of-waste criteria for iron, steel and aluminium scrap

Council Regulation (EU) No 333/2011 of 31 March 2011 establishing criteria determining when certain types of scrap metal cease to be waste under Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

- Status: In force
- Legal order: European Union
- Legal area: Waste and end-of-waste status
- OJ L 94, 8.4.2011, p. 2
- Business profile: Smelting, Semi-fabrication, Recycling, Scrap trade

## In brief

Criteria under which iron and steel scrap and aluminium (including aluminium alloy) scrap cease to be waste upon transfer from the producer to another holder. The act has not been amended.

## Key obligations

- Fe/steel scrap ceases to be waste where the criteria on input material, treatment and quality in Annex I and the requirements of Arts 5–6 are met (Art. 3)
- Al scrap ceases to be waste where the criteria in Annex II and the requirements of Arts 5–6 are met (Art. 4)
- foreign materials: ≤ 2% by weight for Fe/steel scrap (Annex I, point 1.2); ≤ 5% by weight or metal yield ≥ 90% for Al scrap (Annex II, point 1.2)
- statement of conformity for each consignment in accordance with Annex III, copy retained for at least one year (Art. 5(1)–(2))
- quality management system verified every 3 years by an accredited conformity assessment body or an EMAS verifier (Art. 6(1) and (5))

## Competent authority

inspection: Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (WIOŚ) (Inspection for Environmental Protection); conditions for end-of-waste status in PL – Art. 14 of the Act on waste

## Penalties

no penalties in the act; failure to meet the criteria means that the material remains waste (Art. 14(2) of the Act on waste) and is subject to the penalties of that Act

## Entry into force

28.04.2011

## Application

2011-10-09

## Related acts

- [Waste Framework Directive (WFD)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-wfd/)
- [End-of-waste criteria for copper scrap](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-eow-715-2013/)
- [Act on waste (BDO, permits, EoW)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/pl-ustawa-odpady/)
- [Circular Economy Act (CEA) – announced](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-cea/)

## Official sources

- [Text of the act](http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/333/oj)
- [EUR-Lex – Regulation (EU) No 333/2011, document information](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32011R0333)
- [EUR-Lex – text of Regulation (EU) No 333/2011](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R0333)

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Register as of: 22.10.2026. The official text of the act prevails. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/law/#akt-eu-eow-333-2011