Waste — HTS 3915
Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics
Chapter 39 › Heading 3915
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 3915 is a broad product category for waste, parings, and scrap of plastics. It generally covers plastic material that is discarded or recovered from manufacturing, processing, or use, such as trimmings, offcuts, defective pieces, and other plastic remnants. This heading is about the condition and nature of the goods—not finished plastic products that are still suitable for their original intended use.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the plastic’s composition and physical form, then follow the subheadings under heading 3915. The tariff structure commonly separates material by polymer or plastic type and may distinguish forms such as scrap, waste, or remnants. Confirm the product description, applicable chapter notes, and the current HTSUS wording; if the material is mixed, contaminated, or processed into a different product, classification may require customs-broker or binding-ruling guidance.
What to check
- Identify the exact plastic polymer or polymers, using supplier specifications, resin identification, or laboratory information where needed.
- Describe the goods as imported: for example, loose scrap, production offcuts, flakes, pellets, film, or other processed material.
- Check whether the material is truly waste or scrap rather than a usable finished article, raw material, or recycled product classifiable elsewhere.
- Review the complete 8-digit HTSUS descriptions and relevant legal notes, not just the 4-digit heading title.
- Document mixtures, contamination, additives, and processing, and ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling when those facts could change classification.
HTS heading 3915 summary
Waste is a 4-digit product category containing 4 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3915.10.00.00 👉 | Of polymers of ethylene | Free | — | 10% |
| 3915.20.00.00 👉 | Of polymers of styrene | Free | — | 10% |
| 3915.30.00.00 👉 | Of polymers of vinyl chloride | Free | — | 10% |
| 3915.90.00 👉 | Of other plastics | Free | — | 10% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3915?
Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.