Classify Waste

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste \
  --header 'Authorization: <authorization>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: <content-type>' \
  --data '
{
  "description": "<string>",
  "source_industry": "<string>",
  "additional_context": "<string>",
  "max_results": 123
}
'

import requests

url = "https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste"

payload = {
    "description": "<string>",
    "source_industry": "<string>",
    "additional_context": "<string>",
    "max_results": 123
}
headers = {
    "Authorization": "<authorization>",
    "Content-Type": "<content-type>"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)

print(response.text)

const options = {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {Authorization: '<authorization>', 'Content-Type': '<content-type>'},
  body: JSON.stringify({
    description: '<string>',
    source_industry: '<string>',
    additional_context: '<string>',
    max_results: 123
  })
};

fetch('https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste', options)
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(res => console.log(res))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

<?php

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
  CURLOPT_URL => "https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste",
  CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
  CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
  CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
  CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
  CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
  CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "POST",
  CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode([
    'description' => '<string>',
    'source_industry' => '<string>',
    'additional_context' => '<string>',
    'max_results' => 123
  ]),
  CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => [
    "Authorization: <authorization>",
    "Content-Type: <content-type>"
  ],
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
  echo "cURL Error #:" . $err;
} else {
  echo $response;
}

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"strings"
	"net/http"
	"io"
)

func main() {

	url := "https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste"

	payload := strings.NewReader("{\n  \"description\": \"<string>\",\n  \"source_industry\": \"<string>\",\n  \"additional_context\": \"<string>\",\n  \"max_results\": 123\n}")

	req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", url, payload)

	req.Header.Add("Authorization", "<authorization>")
	req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "<content-type>")

	res, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)

	defer res.Body.Close()
	body, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)

	fmt.Println(string(body))

}

HttpResponse<String> response = Unirest.post("https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste")
  .header("Authorization", "<authorization>")
  .header("Content-Type", "<content-type>")
  .body("{\n  \"description\": \"<string>\",\n  \"source_industry\": \"<string>\",\n  \"additional_context\": \"<string>\",\n  \"max_results\": 123\n}")
  .asString();

require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

url = URI("https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste")

http = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(url)
request["Authorization"] = '<authorization>'
request["Content-Type"] = '<content-type>'
request.body = "{\n  \"description\": \"<string>\",\n  \"source_industry\": \"<string>\",\n  \"additional_context\": \"<string>\",\n  \"max_results\": 123\n}"

response = http.request(request)
puts response.read_body

{
  "classifications": [
    {}
  ],
  "classifications[].ewc_code": "<string>",
  "classifications[].confidence": 123,
  "classifications[].reasoning": "<string>",
  "classifications[].is_hazardous": true,
  "compliance.hazardous_waste": true,
  "compliance.requires_consignment_note": true,
  "compliance.disposal_notes": "<string>"
}

POST

classify-waste

Classify Waste

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste \
  --header 'Authorization: <authorization>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: <content-type>' \
  --data '
{
  "description": "<string>",
  "source_industry": "<string>",
  "additional_context": "<string>",
  "max_results": 123
}
'

import requests

url = "https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste"

payload = {
    "description": "<string>",
    "source_industry": "<string>",
    "additional_context": "<string>",
    "max_results": 123
}
headers = {
    "Authorization": "<authorization>",
    "Content-Type": "<content-type>"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)

print(response.text)

const options = {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {Authorization: '<authorization>', 'Content-Type': '<content-type>'},
  body: JSON.stringify({
    description: '<string>',
    source_industry: '<string>',
    additional_context: '<string>',
    max_results: 123
  })
};

fetch('https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste', options)
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(res => console.log(res))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

<?php

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
  CURLOPT_URL => "https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste",
  CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
  CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
  CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
  CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
  CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
  CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "POST",
  CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode([
    'description' => '<string>',
    'source_industry' => '<string>',
    'additional_context' => '<string>',
    'max_results' => 123
  ]),
  CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => [
    "Authorization: <authorization>",
    "Content-Type: <content-type>"
  ],
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
  echo "cURL Error #:" . $err;
} else {
  echo $response;
}

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"strings"
	"net/http"
	"io"
)

func main() {

	url := "https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste"

	payload := strings.NewReader("{\n  \"description\": \"<string>\",\n  \"source_industry\": \"<string>\",\n  \"additional_context\": \"<string>\",\n  \"max_results\": 123\n}")

	req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", url, payload)

	req.Header.Add("Authorization", "<authorization>")
	req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "<content-type>")

	res, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)

	defer res.Body.Close()
	body, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)

	fmt.Println(string(body))

}

HttpResponse<String> response = Unirest.post("https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste")
  .header("Authorization", "<authorization>")
  .header("Content-Type", "<content-type>")
  .body("{\n  \"description\": \"<string>\",\n  \"source_industry\": \"<string>\",\n  \"additional_context\": \"<string>\",\n  \"max_results\": 123\n}")
  .asString();

require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

url = URI("https://api.example.com/v1/classify-waste")

http = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(url)
request["Authorization"] = '<authorization>'
request["Content-Type"] = '<content-type>'
request.body = "{\n  \"description\": \"<string>\",\n  \"source_industry\": \"<string>\",\n  \"additional_context\": \"<string>\",\n  \"max_results\": 123\n}"

response = http.request(request)
puts response.read_body

{
  "classifications": [
    {}
  ],
  "classifications[].ewc_code": "<string>",
  "classifications[].confidence": 123,
  "classifications[].reasoning": "<string>",
  "classifications[].is_hazardous": true,
  "compliance.hazardous_waste": true,
  "compliance.requires_consignment_note": true,
  "compliance.disposal_notes": "<string>"
}

Classify Waste

Classifies a plain-English waste description into the correct European Waste Catalogue (EWC) code(s) using AI. The EWC comprises approximately 650 six-digit codes across 20 chapters. Codes marked with an asterisk are hazardous.

Requires authentication via Authorization header. See Authentication.

Request

Method: POST Path: /v1/classify-waste

Headers

string

required

Bearer token with your API key, e.g. Bearer wc_live_your_key

string

required

Must be application/json

Body Parameters

string

required

Plain-English description of the waste

string

Industry or activity that produced the waste (improves accuracy)

string

Extra detail about contamination, composition, etc.

integer

Number of classifications to return (default 3, max 5)

Response

Success Response (200)

{
  "classifications": [
    {
      "ewc_code": "17 08 02",
      "description": "Gypsum-based construction materials",
      "chapter": "17 - Construction and demolition wastes",
      "is_hazardous": false,
      "confidence": 0.94,
      "reasoning": "Plasterboard is gypsum-based. Non-contaminated material from construction falls under chapter 17."
    }
  ],
  "compliance": {
    "hazardous_waste": false,
    "flags": [],
    "disposal_notes": "Standard non-hazardous waste. Suitable for licensed waste transfer station or recycling.",
    "requires_consignment_note": false
  },
  "metadata": {
    "classified_at": "2026-03-25T14:31:00Z",
    "model_version": "1.0",
    "cached": false
  }
}

array

Ranked list of matching EWC codes with confidence scores

string

Six-digit EWC code (e.g. 17 08 02)

number

Confidence score from 0 to 1. Below 0.7 suggests manual review

string

Explanation of why this code was selected (for audit trails)

boolean

Whether this EWC code is classified as hazardous

boolean

True if any returned code is hazardous

boolean

True if hazardous waste requires a consignment note

string

Guidance on appropriate disposal or recycling

Confidence Scores

Score	Interpretation	Recommended Action
0.9 - 1.0	High confidence	Safe to use directly
0.7 - 0.89	Moderate confidence	Acceptable, but review if waste is unusual
Below 0.7	Low confidence	Manual review recommended. A `LOW_CONFIDENCE` flag is returned

Caching

Classifications are cached for 7 days based on the exact combination of description and source_industry. EWC codes don’t change, so cached results remain accurate. The metadata.cached field indicates cache status.

Error Responses

Code	HTTP	When
`INVALID_REQUEST`	400	Missing `description` field
`CLASSIFICATION_FAILED`	500	Waste classification could not be completed

Example

curl -X POST https://api.wastecheck.co.uk/v1/classify-waste \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer wc_live_your_api_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "description": "Broken plasterboard from office refurbishment",
    "source_industry": "construction",
    "additional_context": "Non-contaminated, from internal walls"
  }'

const response = await fetch(
  "https://api.wastecheck.co.uk/v1/classify-waste",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Authorization": "Bearer wc_live_your_api_key_here",
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      description: "Broken plasterboard from office refurbishment",
      source_industry: "construction",
      additional_context: "Non-contaminated, from internal walls",
    }),
  }
);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.classifications[0].ewc_code); // "17 08 02"

import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.wastecheck.co.uk/v1/classify-waste",
    headers={
        "Authorization": "Bearer wc_live_your_api_key_here",
    },
    json={
        "description": "Broken plasterboard from office refurbishment",
        "source_industry": "construction",
        "additional_context": "Non-contaminated, from internal walls",
    },
)
data = response.json()
print(data["classifications"][0]["ewc_code"])  # "17 08 02"

Getting Started

API Reference

Classify Waste

Classify Waste

Request

Headers

Body Parameters

Response

Success Response (200)

Confidence Scores

Caching

Error Responses

Example

​Classify Waste

​Request

​Headers

​Body Parameters

​Response

​Success Response (200)

​Confidence Scores

​Caching

​Error Responses

​Example

Classify Waste

Request

Headers

Body Parameters

Response

Success Response (200)

Confidence Scores

Caching

Error Responses

Example