Compliance
K-list waste codes: waste from specific sources
Named process residues from named industries, and how to tell whether a K code applies to your site.
K codes are RCRA listings for hazardous waste from specific industrial sources. Each K code names a particular residue from a particular process in a named industry, so a K code applies only if your facility runs that exact process.
Source: 40 CFR 261.32Industries covered by K listings
- Wood preservation, K001
- Inorganic pigment manufacturing, K002 to K008
- Organic chemicals manufacturing, K009 to K030 and K083 to K118
- Inorganic chemicals manufacturing, K071 to K073 and K106
- Pesticide manufacturing, K031 to K043 and K097 to K099
- Explosives manufacturing, K044 to K047
- Petroleum refining, K048 to K052
- Iron and steel production, K061 and K062
- Primary and secondary metals, K064 to K069 and K100
- Veterinary pharmaceuticals, K084 and K101 to K102
- Ink formulation, K086
- Coking, K060 and K087 to K145
K codes are narrow by design
Unlike the F list, which describes waste types that many industries generate, each K code names one residue from one process. K061 is emission control dust from primary steel production in electric furnaces. It is not any steel dust, and it is not dust from a foundry.
That narrowness cuts both ways. Most facilities generate no K waste at all. The ones that do usually generate it in volume and routinely, so the code is well established in their profiles. The risk is a process change that quietly brings a listing into scope, which is why waste determinations are worth revisiting when a line changes.
Common questions
How do I know whether a K code applies?
Read the listing description against your actual process, not against your industry. The listing names the industry, the process and the residue. All three have to match. If any one does not, the waste may still be hazardous by characteristic.
Are K wastes harder to dispose of?
Usually yes. Many K listings carry constituent specific land disposal restriction standards, and several require combustion. Receiving facilities also need the specific code on their permit, which narrows the available outlets.
Can a K listed waste be delisted?
Yes. A facility can petition EPA or an authorized state to delist a specific waste from a specific facility under 40 CFR 260.20 and 260.22, by demonstrating it does not meet the criteria that led to the listing. It is a long process but worthwhile on high volume streams.
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This page summarizes federal requirements and is not legal advice. State programs can be more stringent than the federal baseline. Verify against current federal and state regulations before acting. Last reviewed September 2026.