Product classification
HS code for Unsorted battery waste: 8549.14
Waste and scrap, of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, spent or not, unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury.
Classification of unsorted battery waste under HS 8549.14
Unsorted battery waste is classified under HS code 8549.14. This code was introduced as part of the 2022 updates to the Harmonized System to better track and regulate the trade of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). Heading 8549 covers electrical and electronic waste and scrap. Subheading 8549.14 specifically addresses waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries, and electric accumulators that are 'unsorted.' This means the shipment contains a mixture of different battery chemistries (such as alkaline, lithium-ion, and nickel-cadmium) that have not been separated. Crucially, this specific code is for waste that does not contain lead, cadmium, or mercury in concentrations that would classify it as hazardous under the more specific subheadings 8549.11, 8549.12, or 8549.13. This classification is used by recyclers and waste management firms when shipping bulk spent batteries where the exact chemical composition of the entire lot is mixed or unknown, provided they are not predominantly lead-acid or other heavy-metal-heavy types.
- Covers
- Mixed spent primary batteries
- Unsorted lithium-ion battery scrap
- Mixed alkaline and zinc-carbon battery waste
- Spent electric accumulators (unsorted)
- Discarded battery packs from consumer electronics
- Also under 8549.14
- Call2Recycle collected battery waste (before sorting)
- Municipal household battery collection bins
- Best Buy electronics recycling drop-off (mixed batteries)
- Curbside battery collection programs
- Mixed e-waste battery components
Codes often confused with 8549.14
Common mistake. Unsorted battery waste is often misclassified under 8549.11 if it is mistakenly thought to be primarily lead-acid batteries. It may also be confused with 8548.00, which in older versions of the HS nomenclature was the general code for waste and scrap of primary cells, but 8549 is now the correct heading for most e-waste. If the waste is sorted by chemistry (e.g., pure lithium-ion scrap), it should be classified under 8549.19.
Top exporters and importers of HS 854914 (the code used for unsorted battery waste), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 854914 (the code used for unsorted battery waste) in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 68% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 60% 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 854914, not only unsorted battery waste.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Netherlands $18M 68% of world exports
- 2 Germany $2.7M 10.0% of world exports
- 3 Japan $2.5M 9.2% of world exports
World total: $27M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $15M 60% of world imports
- 2 Canada $1.9M 7.7% of world imports
- 3 Japan $1.9M 7.4% of world imports
World total: $25M 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 unsorted battery waste
Brazil classifies unsorted battery waste under NCM 8549.14.00: HS 8549.14 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about unsorted battery waste
What is the HS code for Unsorted battery waste?
The HS code for Unsorted battery waste is 854914 (Waste and scrap; of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, spent or not, unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury). The HS code for unsorted battery waste not containing lead, cadmium, or mercury is 8549.14.
How do I classify Unsorted battery waste for customs?
Unsorted battery waste is classified under HS code 854914 — Waste and scrap; of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, spent or not, unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What if the unsorted batteries contain lead?
If the unsorted waste contains lead-acid batteries or significant lead content, it should be classified under HS code 8549.11.
Which countries are the top exporters of unsorted battery waste (HS 854914)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 854914 (the code used for unsorted battery waste) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($18M, 68% of world exports), Germany ($2.7M) and Japan ($2.5M). World exports came to about $27M, 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 unsorted battery waste (HS 854914)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 854914 (the code used for unsorted battery waste) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($15M, 60% of world imports), Canada ($1.9M) and Japan ($1.9M). World imports came to about $25M, 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 Unsorted battery waste the same in all countries?
The base HS code 854914 for Unsorted battery 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 unsorted battery waste in Brazil?
In Brazil, unsorted battery waste (HS 854914) is classified under NCM 8549.14.00.