Waste management SIC codes sit in Division 38, with 7,504 active companies collecting non-hazardous waste under 38110. The treatment codes change most under SIC 2026, as 38210 alone can map to six new codes. So a saved filter for waste treatment will need rebuilding.
Results Driven Marketing (RD Marketing) wrote this guide for suppliers who sell to waste companies. We sell B2B data, so we have an interest in the subject. To keep it useful, we link our sources and show where a SIC search falls short. For the basics, read what an SIC code is.
Written by Iain Irvin, Director of RD Marketing. Iain worked in telesales, business development and sales management before starting the business, and has more than 15 years of experience in B2B marketing data and lead generation. Codes, counts and sources checked on 7 November 2026.
Contents
- Waste Management SIC Codes Compared
- Waste Management SIC Codes and Carrier Registration
- Waste Management SIC Codes Under SIC 2026
- Where Waste Management SIC Codes Fall Short
- Using Waste Management SIC Codes to Build a List
- RD Marketing Services That Can Help
- How We Checked This
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Talk to Us
Waste Management SIC Codes Compared
Do not add the counts together, because a company can list up to four codes.
| SIC code | Companies House description | Active companies | SIC 2026 code | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38110 | Collection of non-hazardous waste | 7,504 | 38.11 | Non-hazardous collection |
| 38120 | Collection of hazardous waste | 875 | 38.12 | Hazardous collection |
| 38210 | Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste | 2,749 | 6 possible codes | Non-hazardous treatment |
| 38220 | Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste | 708 | 5 possible codes | Hazardous treatment |
| 38320 | Recovery of sorted materials | 2,918 | 20.16, 38.21 | Recycling of sorted materials |
| 39000 | Remediation activities and other waste management services | 3,993 | 39.00 | Remediation |
Waste Management SIC Codes and Carrier Registration
GOV.UK says a business must register if it transports waste, buys, sells or disposes of it, or arranges for someone else to do so. That covers far more than waste firms, because many other businesses carry their own waste. So a registration alone does not show that a company sells waste services, and a code alone does not show that it holds the right registration. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have their own processes.
Waste Management SIC Codes Under SIC 2026
The Office for National Statistics finalised UK SIC 2026 in April 2026. The ONS table replaces the two treatment codes with a more detailed set: materials recovery, energy recovery, other recovery, incineration, landfill and other disposal. Collection codes stay the same, at 38.11 and 38.12. Recycling at 38.32 is reused too, as that number becomes landfilling or permanent storage. You can read more in our UK SIC 2026 research.
Where Waste Management SIC Codes Fall Short
- Skip hire. Some skip firms may list waste codes and others hire or transport codes, so search more than one.
- Reused numbers. A saved filter on 38.32 could move from recycling to landfill.
- Group structures. A large operator may run many sites under one company.
Using Waste Management SIC Codes to Build a List
- Choose collection, treatment or both. They have very different sites and buyers.
- Add site location. Registered offices may not be operating sites.
- Add size. Fleet and staff numbers help you find larger firms.
- Test a sample. Check it against firms you know.
See our lead generation for waste management companies. Our recycling companies data includes 1,316 phone numbers and postal addresses.
RD Marketing Services That Can Help
Once you know which codes and audiences you need, these pages explain how we can help you reach them.
- B2B data list provider: who we are and what we supply.
- Marketing databases: our main page for buying UK business data.
- Telemarketing sales lists: phone data for outbound sales teams.
- Email database UK: business email data for your campaigns.
- Direct mail data: postal data for letters and mailshots.
- LinkedIn automation: managed outreach to decision-makers on LinkedIn.
- Automated email campaigns: email campaigns run and followed up for you.
How We Checked This
Company counts come from Companies House advanced search, using the active status filter and one code at a time, on 7 November 2026. Descriptions come from the Companies House SIC code list. SIC 2026 codes come from the ONS correspondence table, dated 3 August 2026. A correspondence shows where a code could go. It does not tell you how any one company will be recoded. Registration details come from GOV.UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIC code for a waste management company?
Use 38110 for collecting non-hazardous waste and 38120 for hazardous waste. Treatment and disposal sit under 38210 and 38220.
What is the SIC code for recycling?
The code is usually 38320, recovery of sorted materials. Under SIC 2026 it can map to 38.21, materials recovery, or 20.16 for plastics.
What is the SIC code for skip hire?
There is no skip hire code. Check 38110 and related waste codes, then confirm what each firm does.
Do waste firms have to register?
GOV.UK says businesses that transport, deal in or broker waste must register, and you can get an unlimited fine if you do not.
Talk to Us
Need to reach waste companies? Tell us who you want to reach, and we will send you a free audience count and quote within 24 hours, along with a sample.
Contact RD Marketing today to discuss your target market.