HS Code for Precious metal e-waste

Precious metal e-waste is classified under HS code 8549.29. This code is part of the relatively new structure for electrical and electronic waste and scrap introduced to better track environmental and resource recovery flows. It specifically refers to waste and scrap of a kind used principally for the recovery of precious metals, excluding those items already covered under 8549.21 (which typically involves lead-acid batteries or specific hazardous components). The classification focuses on the end-use of the waste—recovering valuable metals like gold, silver, or palladium from discarded electronic components. This code ensures that electronic scrap intended for metal reclamation is tracked separately from general electronic waste or scrap intended for plastic or base metal recovery.

Products Included

• Discarded printed circuit boards (PCBs)
• Scrap electronic connectors with gold plating
• Waste CPUs and semiconductor chips
• Old mobile phone motherboards
• Electronic scrap containing silver contacts

Common Misclassification

Which other HS codes get confused with this one and why. Mention specific code numbers. This code is often confused with 7112.91, which covers waste and scrap of gold or of metal clad with gold. However, if the scrap is clearly electronic in nature, 8549.29 is more specific. It may also be confused with 8549.21 if the waste contains specific hazardous substances like lead or cadmium that trigger the more restrictive classification.

FAQ

What is the HS code for Precious metal e-waste?

The HS code for electronic waste used principally for precious metal recovery is 8549.29.

How does 8549.29 differ from 8549.11?

8549.11 is specifically for waste and scrap of primary cells, batteries, and electric accumulators, whereas 8549.29 covers other electronic waste for metal recovery.