Electrical and electronic waste and scrap — HTS 8549
Electrical and electronic waste and scrap
Chapter 85 › Heading 8549
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 8549 is a broad product category for electrical and electronic waste and scrap. It generally covers discarded or recovered electrical and electronic items, parts, and materials, rather than ordinary new goods. The heading is organized into more specific subheadings based mainly on the kind of waste or scrap and, in some cases, the material or equipment type.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, start with the actual condition and composition of the shipment—not just its original use. Review the product description, identify whether it is waste, scrap, or usable equipment, and then follow the applicable subheading structure. The final classification can depend on details such as whether the shipment consists of printed circuit boards, cables, batteries, or other electronic components. A customs broker or classification specialist may be needed when the condition, composition, or intended processing is unclear.
What to check
- Document whether the goods are genuinely waste or scrap, or whether they are tested, reusable products that may belong elsewhere in the HTS.
- Identify the physical contents precisely, including equipment type, component type, dominant materials, and whether items are mixed.
- Check whether batteries, hazardous substances, or other regulated materials are included; separate shipments may require different classifications or controls.
- Use the HTS heading and subheading descriptions together, and verify the required 8-digit statistical code against the current official HTSUS.
- Keep invoices, photographs, recycling or processing descriptions, and test records that support the classification; request broker or Customs guidance if facts are ambiguous.
HTS heading 8549 summary
Electrical and electronic waste and scrap is a 4-digit product category containing 9 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.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8549.11 | Waste and scrap of lead-acid accumulators; spent lead-acid accumulators |
| 8549.12 | Other, containing lead, cadmium or mercury |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8549.13.00.00 👉 | Sorted by chemical type and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.14.00.00 👉 | Unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.19.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.21.00.00 👉 | Containing primary cells, primary batteries, electric accumulators, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes or other activated glass, or electrical or electronic components containing cadmium, mercury, lead or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.29.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.31.00.00 👉 | Containing primary cells, primary batteries, electric accumulators, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes or other activated glass, or electrical or electronic components containing cadmium, mercury, lead or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.39.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.91.00.00 👉 | Containing primary cells, primary batteries, electric accumulators, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes or other activated glass, or electrical or electronic components containing cadmium, mercury, lead or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Free | — | Free |
| 8549.99.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8549?
Electrical and electronic waste and scrap. 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.