Electrical and electronic waste and scrap

HS v2022 Code: 8549

About electrical and electronic waste and scrap

HS code 8549 covers the classification of electrical and electronic waste and scrap. This industry plays a crucial role in the circular economy, as it facilitates the recovery and recycling of valuable materials from discarded electronic devices. By diverting these materials from landfills, the industry contributes to sustainable resource management and reduces the environmental impact of electronic waste disposal.

Production process

The main production techniques in this industry involve the collection, sorting, and processing of electrical and electronic waste. Specialized facilities use a combination of manual and automated processes to dismantle, separate, and extract the various components and materials present in the waste stream. This includes the recovery of precious metals, plastics, and other recyclable materials for further processing and reuse.

Production inputs

The key inputs for this industry include the collection of used and discarded electrical and electronic equipment, such as computers, televisions, mobile phones, and household appliances. Additionally, the industry requires specialized machinery and equipment for the dismantling, sorting, and processing of the waste materials, as well as skilled labor to operate these systems.

Production outputs

The primary outputs of this industry are the recovered materials, including metals, plastics, and other components, which can be further processed and reused in the production of new electronic devices or other products. The industry's outputs may be consumed by manufacturers of 8471 Automatic data processing machines and units thereof, 8473 (Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the like) suitable for use solely or principally with machines of headings 84.69 to 84.72), and 8517 Electrical apparatus for line telephony or line telegraphy, including line telephone sets with cordless handsets and telecommunication apparatus for carrier-current line systems or for digital line systems, among others.

Family tree for electrical and electronic waste and scrap

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/85'>85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8549'>8549: Electrical and electronic waste and scrap</a>"]

    A --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8501'>8501: Electric motors and generators (excluding generating sets)</a>"]
A --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8502'>8502: Electric generating sets and rotary converters</a>"]
A --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8503'>8503: Electric motors and generators; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading no. 8501 or 8502</a>"]
A --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8504'>8504: Electric transformers, static converters (e.g. rectifiers) and inductors</a>"]
A --> G["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8505'>8505: Electro-magnets; permanent magnets, intended permanent magnets; electro-magnetic, permanent magnet chucks, clamps, similar; electromagnetic couplings, clutches, brakes; electro-magnetic lifting heads</a>"]
A --> H["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8506'>8506: Cells and batteries; primary</a>"]
A --> I["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8507'>8507: Electric accumulators, including separators therefor; whether or not rectangular (including square)</a>"]
A --> J["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8508'>8508: Vacuum cleaners</a>"]
A --> K["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8509'>8509: Electro-mechanical domestic appliances; with self-contained electric motor, other than vacuum cleaners of heading 85.08.</a>"]
A --> L["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8510'>8510: Shavers, hair clippers and hair removing appliances, with self-contained electric motor</a>"]
A --> M["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8511'>8511: Ignition or starting equipment; used for spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines; generators and cut outs used in conjunction with such engines</a>"]
A --> N["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8512'>8512: Lighting or visual signalling equipment (excluding articles of heading no. 8539), windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters; electrical, of a kind used for cycles or motor vehicles</a>"]
A --> O["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8513'>8513: Lamps; portable, electric, designed to function by their own source of energy (e.g. dry batteries, accumulators, magnetos), excluding lighting equipment of heading no. 8512</a>"]
A --> P["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8514'>8514: Industrial or laboratory electric furnaces and ovens (including those functioning by induction or dielectric loss); other industrial or laboratory equipment for the heat treatment of materials by induction or dielectric loss</a>"]
A --> Q["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8515'>8515: Electric (electrically heated gas) soldering, brazing, welding machines and apparatus, capable or not of cutting, electric machines and apparatus for hot spraying of metals or sintered carbides</a>"]
A --> R["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8516'>8516: Electric water, space, soil heaters; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus; hand dryers, irons; electro-thermic appliances for domestic purposes; electro heating resistors, not of heading no. 8545</a>"]
A --> S["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8517'>8517: Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular/wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data (including wired/wireless networks), excluding items of 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528</a>"]
A --> T["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8518'>8518: Microphones and their stands; loudspeakers, mounted or not in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, combined or not with a microphone, and sets of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio-frequency and electric sound amplifiers and sets</a>"]
A --> U["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8519'>8519: Sound recording or reproducing apparatus</a>"]
A --> V["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8521'>8521: Video recording or reproducing apparatus</a>"]
A --> W["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8522'>8522: Sound or video recording apparatus; parts and accessories suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading 8519 or 8521</a>"]
A --> X["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8523'>8523: Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, smart cards and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, excluding products of Chapter 37</a>"]
A --> Y["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8524'>8524: Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens</a>"]
A --> Z["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8525'>8525: Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not incorporating reception apparatus or sound recording or reproducing apparatus; television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders</a>"]
A --> BA["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8526'>8526: Radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus and radio remote control apparatus</a>"]
A --> BB["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8527'>8527: Reception apparatus for radio-broadcasting, whether or not combined, in the same housing, with sound recording or reproducing apparatus or a clock.</a>"]
A --> BC["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8528'>8528: Monitors and projectors, not incorporating television reception apparatus; reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus</a>"]
A --> BD["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8529'>8529: Transmission apparatus; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8524 to 8528</a>"]
A --> BE["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8530'>8530: Signalling, safety or traffic control equipment; for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations, airfields, excluding those of heading no. 8608</a>"]
A --> BF["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8531'>8531: Signalling apparatus; electric sound or visual (e.g. bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), excluding those of heading no. 8512 or 8530</a>"]
A --> BG["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8532'>8532: Electrical capacitors; fixed, variable or adjustable (pre-set)</a>"]
A --> BH["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8533'>8533: Electrical resistors (including rheostats and potentiometers), excluding heating resistors</a>"]
A --> BI["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8534'>8534: Circuits; printed</a>"]
A --> BJ["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8535'>8535: Electrical apparatus for switching, protecting electrical circuits, for making connections to or in electrical circuits; for a voltage exceeding 1000 volts</a>"]
A --> BK["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8536'>8536: Electrical apparatus for switching, protecting electrical circuits, for making connections to or in electrical circuits, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts; connectors for optical fibres, optical fibre bundles or cables</a>"]
A --> BL["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8537'>8537: Boards, panels, consoles, desks, cabinets, bases with apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 for electricity control and distribution, (other than switching apparatus of heading no. 8517)</a>"]
A --> BM["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8538'>8538: Electrical apparatus; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 and 8537</a>"]
A --> BN["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8539'>8539: Lamps; electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units and ultra-violet or infra-red lamps, arc lamps, light-emitting diode (LED) light sources</a>"]
A --> BO["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8540'>8540: Thermionic, cold cathode or photo-cathode valves and tubes (e.g. vacuum, vapour, gas filled valves and tubes, mercury arc rectifying valves and tubes, cathode-ray and television camera tubes)</a>"]
A --> BP["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8541'>8541: Semiconductor devices (e.g. diodes, transistors, semiconductor based transducers); including photovoltaic cells assembled or not in modules or panels, light-emitting diodes (LED) assembled with other LEDs or not, mounted piezo-electric crystals</a>"]
A --> BQ["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8542'>8542: Electronic integrated circuits</a>"]
A --> BR["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8543'>8543: Electrical machines and apparatus; having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter</a>"]
A --> BS["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8544'>8544: Insulated wire, cable and other electric conductors, connector fitted or not; optical fibre cables of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors</a>"]
A --> BT["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8545'>8545: Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other articles of graphite or other carbon; with or without metal, of a kind used for electrical purposes</a>"]
A --> BU["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8546'>8546: Electrical insulators of any material</a>"]
A --> BV["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8547'>8547: Insulating fittings; for electrical machines, appliances, equipment, excluding insulators of heading no. 8546, electrical conduit tubing and joints therefore</a>"]
A --> BW["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/8548'>8548: Electrical parts of machinery or apparatus; not specified or elsewhere included in this chapter</a>"]

    B --> BX["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854911'>854911: Waste and scrap of lead-acid accumulators; spent lead-acid accumulators</a>"]
B --> BY["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854912'>854912: Waste and scrap; of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, spent or not, containing lead, cadmium or mercury, other than lead-acid accumulators</a>"]
B --> BZ["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854913'>854913: Waste and scrap; of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, spent or not, sorted by chemical type and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury</a>"]
B --> CA["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854914'>854914: Waste and scrap; of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, spent or not, unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury</a>"]
B --> CB["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854919'>854919: Waste and scrap; of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, n.e.c. in item no 8549.1</a>"]
B --> CC["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854921'>854921: Electrical and electronic waste and scrap; of a kind used principally for the recovery of precious metal, containing primary cells and batteries, electric accumulators, mercury-switches, glass from cathode ray tubes or other activated glass, or electrical</a>"]
B --> CD["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854929'>854929: Waste and scrap; of a kind used principally for the recovery of precious metal n.e.c. in item no 8549.21</a>"]
B --> CE["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854931'>854931: Electrical and electronic waste and scrap; electrical and electronic assemblies and printed circuit boards, other than those used principally for the recovery of precious metal, containing primary cells and batteries, electric accumulators, mercury-switch</a>"]
B --> CF["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854939'>854939: Waste and scrap; electrical and electronic assemblies and printed circuit boards, other than those used principally for the recovery of precious metal n.e.c. in item no 8549.31</a>"]
B --> CG["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854991'>854991: Waste and scrap; n.e.c. in heading no 8549</a>"]
B --> CH["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/854999'>854999: Waste and scrap; n.e.c. in item no 8549.91</a>"]


    %% Color coordination by level

    classDef level1 color:#000,fill:#a8f9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    classDef level2 color:#000,fill:#e0a458,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level3 color:#000,fill:#419d78,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level4 color:#000,fill:#c04abc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level5 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level6 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef highlight color:#000,fill:#fff,stroke:#000,stroke-width:5px



  %% Apply classes
  class A level2
class B level4
class C level4
class D level4
class E level4
class F level4
class G level4
class H level4
class I level4
class J level4
class K level4
class L level4
class M level4
class N level4
class O level4
class P level4
class Q level4
class R level4
class S level4
class T level4
class U level4
class V level4
class W level4
class X level4
class Y level4
class Z level4
class BA level4
class BB level4
class BC level4
class BD level4
class BE level4
class BF level4
class BG level4
class BH level4
class BI level4
class BJ level4
class BK level4
class BL level4
class BM level4
class BN level4
class BO level4
class BP level4
class BQ level4
class BR level4
class BS level4
class BT level4
class BU level4
class BV level4
class BW level4
class BX level6
class BY level6
class BZ level6
class CA level6
class CB level6
class CC level6
class CD level6
class CE level6
class CF level6
class CG level6
class CH level6

  class B highlight

  %% class A level1
  %% class B,C level2
  %% class D,E,F,G,H,I level2
  %% class J,K,L,M,N,O,P level3
  %% class B highlight