Product classification
HS code for Municipal waste: 3825.10
Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included, municipal waste.
Classification of municipal waste under HS 3825.10
Municipal waste is classified under HS code 3825.10, which is located within Chapter 38 for miscellaneous chemical products. This classification is used for mixed waste collected from households, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and shops, as well as street sweepings and public bin refuse. According to the HS Explanatory Notes, municipal waste typically contains a diverse mixture of materials such as paper, plastics, food waste, glass, and metals. The defining characteristic for 3825.10 is that the waste is "residual" and generally unsorted. If waste has been separated into single-stream recyclables, it is no longer classified here but under the heading for the specific material. This code is essential for tracking the international movement of urban refuse and ensuring it is handled according to environmental and safety regulations. It excludes hazardous waste that is specifically identified in other subheadings of 3825.
- Covers
- Mixed household garbage and refuse
- Commercial waste collected by municipal services
- Street sweepings and sidewalk debris
- Waste from public parks and recreational areas
- Non-hazardous mixed waste from restaurants and hotels
- Also under 3825.10
- General household trash collected by local authorities
- sorted recyclables from residential programs
- commercial waste from offices
- waste destined for incineration plants
- baled RDF for cement kilns
Codes often confused with 3825.10
Common mistake. Municipal waste is often confused with 3825.20, which is specifically for sewage sludge, or 3825.30, which covers clinical or medical waste. A significant point of confusion involves sorted recyclables; for example, pure waste plastic must be classified under 3915, and waste paper under 4707. If the waste is primarily composed of hazardous chemicals, it should be classified under 3825.41 through 3825.90. Additionally, 3825.10 does not include waste containing mainly organic solvents, which falls under 3825.41.
Top exporters and importers of HS 382510 (the code used for municipal waste), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 382510 (the code used for municipal waste) in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 56% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Sweden, with 41% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 382510, not only municipal waste.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United Kingdom $52M 56% of world exports
- 2 Denmark $11M 12% of world exports
- 3 Germany $7.1M 7.7% of world exports
World total: $92M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Sweden $30M 41% of world imports
- 2 Latvia $8.6M 12% of world imports
- 3 Ireland $7.1M 9.9% of world imports
World total: $72M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for municipal waste
Brazil classifies municipal waste under NCM 3825.10.00: HS 3825.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about municipal waste
What is the HS code for Municipal waste?
The HS code for Municipal waste is 382510 (Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included; municipal waste). The HS code for mixed, unsorted municipal waste is 3825.10.
How do I classify Municipal waste for customs?
Municipal waste is classified under HS code 382510 — Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included; municipal waste. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include hazardous industrial waste?
No, hazardous industrial waste is generally classified under subheadings 3825.41 through 3825.90, depending on its composition.
Which countries are the top exporters of municipal waste (HS 382510)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 382510 (the code used for municipal waste) in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($52M, 56% of world exports), Denmark ($11M) and Germany ($7.1M). World exports came to about $92M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of municipal waste (HS 382510)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 382510 (the code used for municipal waste) in UN Comtrade data were Sweden ($30M, 41% of world imports), Latvia ($8.6M) and Ireland ($7.1M). World imports came to about $72M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Municipal waste the same in all countries?
The base HS code 382510 for Municipal waste is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for municipal waste in Brazil?
In Brazil, municipal waste (HS 382510) is classified under NCM 3825.10.00.