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Industrial waste. By types

Industrial waste. By types Catalonia. 2024
Dangerous Not dangerous Total
Exploration, mining, quarrying, and mineral treatment 9 8,941 8,951
Agriculture, forestry and fishing; food preparation and processing 200 723,993 724,194
Wood processing and the production of panels and furniture, paper and cardboard 2,216 197,772 199,988
Leather, fur and textile industries 104 29,723 29,827
Petroleum refining, natural gas purification and pyrolytic treatment of coal 26 144 170
Inorganic chemical processes 8,241 4,795 13,036
Organic chemical processes 267,481 67,300 334,781
Manufacture, formulation, supply and use of coatings (paints, varnishes and vitreous enamels), adhesives, sealants and printing inks 16,839 10,609 27,448
Photographic industry 246 2 248
Thermal processes 31,432 401,616 433,048
Chemical surface treatment and coating of metals and other materials; non-ferrous hydro-metallurgy 22,904 14,468 37,372
Shaping and physical and mechanical surface treatment of metals and plastics 10,558 181,538 192,096
Oils and liquid fuels (except edible oils) 13,764 0 13,764
Organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants 8,433 0 8,433
Packaging; absorbents, wiping cloths, filter materials and protective clothing 36,569 89,504 126,073
Unspecified waste 30,413 174,211 204,624
Construction and demolition wastes (including excavated soil from contaminated sites) 5,881 252,329 258,210
Medical or veterinary services (except kitchen and catering waste) 10,738 4,093 14,831
Waste management facilities, off-site waste water treatment plants and the preparation of water intended for human consumption 1,365 119,231 120,595
Municipal wastes (household waste and similar commercial and industrial wastes) including separately collected fractions 1,843 841,090 842,932
Total 469,262 3,121,359 3,590,621
Units: Tons.
Source: Agència de Residus de Catalunya.

Last update: September 15, 2026. Revised series on September 21, 2026.

Methodological note

Definition of concepts

Industrial waste
Waste derived from manufacturing or industrial activities or processes. Can be: special or non special.
Special industrial waste
Any waste included in the application of Directive 91/689/CE, of December 12.
Non special waste
That which is not included in the previous definition.

Methodological aspects

Industrial waste is presented classified by types, by activity sectors and by counties, in accordance with the new Waste catalogue. Not included is waste resulting from mining activities or from the exploitation of stone, or radioactive waste or unclassified explosives. Neither is sanitary or municipal waste included, nor that from agricultural or livestock operations that is reused by the agricultural operation, or that which is managed as wastewater.

Groupings according to Section 8 of EU Regulation 849/2010, in relation to statistics on waste:

  • 1 Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing
  • 2 Mining industry
  • 3 Food, beverages and tobacco
  • 4 Textiles, dressmaking, leather and footwear
  • 5 Wood and cork, except furniture; basketware
  • 6 Paper, graphic arts and recorded media
  • 7 Coke products and petroleum refinery
  • 8 Chemical industries, pharmaceutical products, rubber & plastic materials
  • 9 Other non metallic mineral products
  • 10 Metallurgy and metal products
  • 11 Computer products, electronics and optics, electric machinery, mechanical, motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, other transport materials
  • 12 Furniture, manufacturing, machinery and equipment
  • 13 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning
  • 14 Collection, supply and treat. of water, sewage, purification and others
  • 15 Collection, treatment and elimination of waste; evaluation
  • 16 Construction
  • 17 Services (except wholesale of scrap metal and waste)
  • 18 Wholesale of scrap metal and waste

In accordance with the criteria of the Industrial Waste Management Programme (PROGRIC), and on the basis of Declaration 2006, the data on industrial waste is determined in accordance with the grouping into activities: industries, treatment plants and waste managers.

The data of Industrial waste obtained from annual declarations of industrial waste.

When the value is lower than that of the minimum unit to be able to estimate the statistical operation or if it effects statistical confidentiality, the symbol used is "..".