SIC code 38220 covers treatment and disposal of hazardous waste businesses. With 313 active companies, this is a specialised niche within the UK business landscape. It falls under Section E (Water supply; sewerage, waste management) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste industry page.
With a 85% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 11 of 368 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 12.6 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 41% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 31%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, MARLOW, BRISTOL — together account for just 9% of the sector.
SIC code 38220 stands for "Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section E — Water supply; sewerage, waste management. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 313 active companies registered under SIC code 38220 in the UK, out of 368 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 85%, meaning 15% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for treatment and disposal of hazardous waste companies (SIC 38220) are: LONDON (12), MARLOW (9), BRISTOL (7), ROMSEY (7). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 41% of currently active SIC 38220 companies were formed since 2020, and 31% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for treatment and disposal of hazardous waste services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 38220 have an average age of 12.6 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include GREENWAY ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED, ASPECT CONTRACTS LIMITED, AO RECYCLING LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 38110 (Collection of non-hazardous waste), 38320 (Recovery of sorted materials), 38210 (Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste), 38120 (Collection of hazardous waste). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 38220 (Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 313 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-08-21.