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Waste Catalogue Code 17 04 11 for Cables: How to Classify and Record Them Correctly | WIP Cable Recycling

Waste Catalogue Code 17 04 11 for Cables: How to Classify and Record Them Correctly

Cables from construction sites have their own code in the Slovak Waste Catalogue. Most of them fall under code 17 04 11, but not all. This article explains when to use code 17 04 11, when to choose a different code, and how to record cables under the rules in force since 1 January 2026.

Where code 17 04 11 sits in the Waste Catalogue

In Slovakia, the Waste Catalogue is set out in Decree of the Ministry of Environment No. 365/2015 Coll. It is based on the EU List of Waste under Commission Decision 2000/532/EC. Each type of waste has a six-digit code. The first two digits indicate the chapter, the next two the sub-chapter and the last two the waste type itself.

Chapter 17 covers construction and demolition waste. Sub-chapter 17 04 covers metals, including their alloys. It contains two entries for cables:

Code	Name in the catalogue	Category
17 04 10	cables containing oil, coal tar and other hazardous substances	N (hazardous)
17 04 11	cables other than those mentioned in 17 04 10	O (other, non-hazardous)

This is a so-called mirror pair. The same material can fall under either code, depending on whether it contains hazardous substances. Code 17 04 11 is therefore a "residual" code: use it only once you have ruled out 17 04 10.

When cables belong under 17 04 11

Code 17 04 11 applies when three conditions are met. The waste arose from construction or demolition work, it consists of cables, and it does not contain hazardous substances to an extent that would make it hazardous waste.

On a typical site, this includes offcuts and leftovers of PVC-insulated power cables, such as CYKY or AYKY. It also includes installation cables removed from refurbished buildings and data cables from the building structure.

Code 17 04 11 refers to the cable as a whole, i.e. the conductor together with its insulation. Once the insulation is removed, the result is a different waste. Clean copper is then classified as 17 04 01 (copper, bronze, brass) and aluminium as 17 04 02.

When not to use code 17 04 11

Code 17 04 10 covers cables containing oil, coal tar or other hazardous substances. Whether waste is hazardous depends on the hazardous properties HP1 to HP15 under Commission Regulation (EU) No 1357/2014.

Demolition of older buildings and industrial sites may reveal, for example, oil-filled high-voltage cables or old paper-insulated cables impregnated with insulating compounds. For such cables it is prudent to assume 17 04 10 until an expert assessment confirms the classification.

Code 17 04 11 is also not suitable for cables that do not come from construction activity. Cords and cables that are part of electrical equipment generally fall under the waste electrical and electronic equipment regime. Mixed metal waste in which cables are only one component may be classified as 17 04 07 (mixed metals).

Not sure whether old demolition cables belong under 17 04 11 or 17 04 10? We will look at the cables from your site and help you sort them before handover.

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Who is the waste producer and who keeps the records

Since Act No. 230/2022 Coll., Section 77(2) of Act No. 79/2015 Coll. on Waste defines the producer of construction waste specifically. For work carried out for a legal entity or an entrepreneur, the producer is the party to whom the permit under building regulations was issued, usually the developer (building owner). For similar work carried out for private individuals, the producer is whoever performs the work. Details on construction and demolition waste and selective demolition are set out in Decree No. 344/2022 Coll.

In practice, the general contractor often handles waste on behalf of the developer under a contract. The contract should therefore clearly state who keeps the records, who hands the waste over to an authorised party and who archives the documents.

Do you need cable handover documents for each site separately? On collection we issue a document with the waste code and weight, and we state the site according to your details.

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How to record cables from 1 January 2026

Since 1 January 2026, Decree No. 89/2024 Coll. on record-keeping and reporting obligations has applied. It replaced Decree No. 366/2015 Coll. However, reporting obligations for 2025 are still fulfilled under the rules in force until 31 December 2025.

The main record-keeping rules of the new decree are:

Waste is classified according to the Waste Catalogue and recorded by type, i.e. by code, without any quantity threshold.
Records are kept on the waste record sheet under Annex 1, continuously and at least once a month in electronic form.
Records are kept separately for each place where waste arises and for each activity. If the site address differs from the company's registered office, the identifier assigned by the information system when the place is registered is used.
Records are kept in electronic form for at least five years.

Data is sent to the Waste Management Information System (ISOH, Informačný systém odpadového hospodárstva) mainly by the party that first takes over the waste, such as a scrap buyer or a collection facility. It does so at least once per calendar quarter, no later than the end of the following month. The original waste producer under Section 4(1)(a) of the Act may provide data to the system, but must keep its own records.

For cables this means a simple rule. Record each handover under the correct code, with the correct weight and for the correct site. The party that first takes over the cables also sends data on the producer and the place where the waste arose.

Want the data on your site cables to reach the system without needless corrections? We take over cables from you as the first recipient and agree in advance which site details we need for the handover.

Check your handover documents →

Step-by-step procedure

Before work starts, specify in the contract who is the producer and who keeps records for the site.
Register the site as a place where waste arises if its address differs from the company's registered office.
On site, collect cables separately from other metal waste. Set suspicious old cables aside.
For each batch, decide on the code: 17 04 11, 17 04 10, or 17 04 01 or 17 04 02 for stripped metal.
Hand the cables over to a party authorised to handle waste and ask for a weighbridge ticket or another receipt stating the code and weight.
At least once a month, enter the data into the electronic records for that site.
Archive the documents for at least five years and have them ready for building approval, audits or ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting.

Illustrative example

The figures in this example are illustrative and do not reflect any specific project.

A general contractor is building an apartment block. In March 2026 it hands over two batches of CYKY cable offcuts from the site. The first weighs 520 kg, the second 320 kg. While dismantling an old service connection, it also finds 60 kg of old paper-insulated cable, which it sets aside.

Handed over in March 2026 under code 17 04 11:
520 kg + 320 kg = 840 kg = 0.84 t

Set aside for assessment (assumed 17 04 10): 60 kg = 0.06 t

In the March records for the site it enters 0.84 t of waste 17 04 11 (category O). It does not record the old cable as non-hazardous waste until its classification has been verified. If it is confirmed as hazardous, a Y-code is also assigned and it is handed over only to a party authorised to handle hazardous waste.

Documents you should have

For each cable handover it is advisable to have the following documents ready:

weighbridge ticket or receipt stating the waste code, weight and date,
identification of the recipient and its authorisation to handle waste,
electronic waste record sheet for the site,
the contract setting out the division of obligations between the developer and the contractor,
for cables suspected of containing hazardous substances, the result of their assessment.

The same documents are needed for building approval. Data on recycled metals can also be used in sustainability reporting.

Common mistakes

The most common mistake is automatically classifying all cables under 17 04 11 without ruling out code 17 04 10. When demolishing older buildings, this can mean hazardous waste ends up in the wrong stream.

The second mistake is mixing cables with other metal waste. The mixed batch is then recorded as 17 04 07 and you lose accurate data on the cables.

The third mistake is keeping records for the company's registered office instead of the site. The new decree requires separate records for each place where waste arises.

The fourth mistake is unclear contracts. If it is not specified who keeps the records, it may happen that nobody does, or that two parties keep them in duplicate.

Are cables getting mixed with other metal on your site? We can advise on setting up cable collection on site so they can be recorded under the correct code.

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Frequently asked questions

Is cable 17 04 11 hazardous waste?

No. Code 17 04 11 is category O, i.e. other (non-hazardous) waste. Hazardous cables fall under the mirror code 17 04 10.

Can I record stripped copper from a site under 17 04 11?

No. Stripped copper is no longer a cable. From construction activity it is generally classified as 17 04 01, and aluminium as 17 04 02.

Does a construction company have to send data to ISOH itself?

It depends on its role. Under Decree No. 89/2024 Coll., data is sent mainly by the party that first takes over the waste. The original producer may provide it, but always keeps records. We recommend checking your company's specific obligations with your waste management officer.

How long must records be kept?

At least five years in electronic form, under Section 1(4) of Decree No. 89/2024 Coll.

Do the new rules also apply to reporting for 2025?

No. Under the transitional provision, reporting obligations for 2025 are fulfilled under the rules in force until 31 December 2025.

Conclusion

Code 17 04 11 covers most cables from ordinary construction, but it can only be used once the hazardous code 17 04 10 has been ruled out. Cables sorted separately from other metals give more accurate records and a better basis for buy-back. Since 2026, records are kept electronically, at least once a month and separately for each site. A clear contract between the developer and the contractor prevents this obligation from being left unfulfilled.

Do you have cables on site that need to be handed over and recorded? Tell us the scope of the project and the approximate quantity. We will get back to you with collection options.

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