ComplyWaste guides
Waste compliance, in plain English
Straight answers on Digital Waste Tracking, waste transfer notes, EWC codes and duty of care — with the October 2026 and 2027 deadlines explained properly.
Digital Waste Tracking
- R codes and D codes for waste: recovery and disposal operations explainedR codes (R1–R13) are waste recovery operations; D codes (D1–D15) are disposal operations. Both are required fields on UK waste records and DWT submissions.
- Digital Waste Tracking: what it is and when it startsDigital Waste Tracking (DWT) has been mandatory for waste receivers since October 2026 and applies to carriers from October 2027. Here's what it is and how to prepare.
- Carrier vs receiver: who must use Digital Waste Tracking, and whenWaste receivers have had to use Digital Waste Tracking since October 2026; waste carriers follow from October 2027. Here's how to tell which you are — and what to do if you're both.
- What is 'Receipt of Waste'? The DWT receiver requirement explainedA Receipt of Waste is a waste receiver's record of a load arriving at their permitted site, submitted to Digital Waste Tracking. Mandatory since 1 October 2026.
- Digital Waste Tracking readiness checklist for permitted receiving sitesA practical, step-by-step Digital Waste Tracking compliance checklist for permitted receiving sites, now that the receiver duty is in force (1 October 2026, England and Wales; 1 January 2027 Northern Ireland and Scotland).
- Digital Waste Tracking in Scotland: dates and rulesWaste receivers in Scotland must use Digital Waste Tracking from 1 January 2027 — three months later than England and Wales, and the same date as Northern Ireland.
- What will Digital Waste Tracking cost? Fees and software explainedDigital Waste Tracking costs £26 per year per legal entity for the DEFRA service charge, plus any software you choose. Full fee and cost breakdown.
- Digital Waste Tracking for councils and local authoritiesCouncils operating permitted waste sites must use Digital Waste Tracking since October 2026. HWRC household drops are exempt; collection vehicles join in October 2027.
- Who needs to use Digital Waste Tracking? Producers, carriers, brokers and receiversEveryone who handles waste in the chain: receivers (permitted sites) since Oct 2026; carriers, brokers, dealers and producers from Oct 2027.
- When is Digital Waste Tracking mandatory? Every DEFRA deadline by nationDWT has been voluntary since April 2026 and mandatory for receivers since 1 October 2026 in England and Wales (Jan 2027 Northern Ireland and Scotland); carriers, brokers, dealers and producers from Oct 2027.
- What happens if you don't comply with Digital Waste Tracking?Not tracking waste as required breaches the waste duty of care and permit conditions — enforcement runs from advice to prosecution with unlimited fines.
- How to comply with Digital Waste Tracking: a step-by-step guideThe steps to comply with DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking: know your duty and date, enrol, capture each movement, submit receipts within 2 working days, keep records.
- DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking portal vs software: which should you use?Reporting directly on DEFRA's waste tracking service (£26/year per organisation) vs using connected software: cost, offline capture, validation, bulk and reconciliation compared.
- The Digital Waste Tracking deadlines: receivers live, carriers October 2027The receiver Digital Waste Tracking deadline (1 October 2026, England & Wales; Jan 2027 Northern Ireland & Scotland) has passed in England and Wales. The next deadline is carriers, brokers, dealers and producers in October 2027.
- How to register for Digital Waste Tracking (Report receipt of waste)Step-by-step: register your organisation on DEFRA's Report receipt of waste service via Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login. £26/year.
- Digital Waste Tracking in Northern Ireland: the January 2027 deadlineWaste receivers in Northern Ireland must use Digital Waste Tracking from 1 January 2027 — with Scotland, and three months after England and Wales.
- Digital Waste Tracking for carriers: getting ready for October 2027Carriers, brokers and dealers come into Digital Waste Tracking from October 2027. Paper transfer notes still count until then — but preparing now pays off.
- The 2-working-day rule for Digital Waste Tracking receiptsReceivers must submit each Digital Waste Tracking receipt within 2 working days — excluding weekends and bank holidays — starting the day after the waste arrives.
- Is your site in scope for Digital Waste Tracking? Permits, licences and exemptionsAny permitted or licensed site that receives waste is in scope for Digital Waste Tracking. A few narrow exemptions apply. Here is how to tell.
- The ways to report receipt of waste to DEFRA: online, spreadsheet or softwareThree ways to report receipt of waste to DEFRA: enter each movement online, upload a spreadsheet, or connect software via the API. All need the £26/year account.
- Is Digital Waste Tracking being enforced? Checks, penalties and permit riskDWT is mandatory for receivers since 1 Oct 2026. The Regulations carry a £1,000 fixed penalty and unlimited variable penalty. Here is how EA and NRW enforce it.
- What happens if you miss the Digital Waste Tracking 2-working-day deadline?Missing the DWT receipt deadline is a criminal offence carrying a £1,000 fixed penalty or unlimited fine. Here is what to do and how to fix a late or incorrect record.
- The Digital Waste Tracking unique reference number explainedDigital Waste Tracking reference number: assigned instantly when a receipt is submitted. What it is, when you get it, and how to use it for compliance.
- How to correct or update a Receipt of Waste in Digital Waste TrackingReceipts in Digital Waste Tracking are mutable. Fix an EWC code, weight or carrier error within one month of discovering it — here is the step-by-step correction process.
Waste Transfer Notes
- The annual 'season ticket' waste transfer note explainedAn annual waste transfer note (season ticket) covers repeated collections of the same non-hazardous waste by the same carrier — up to 12 months on a single document.
- SIC codes on waste transfer notes: what they are and how to find yoursA waste transfer note must include the transferor's SIC code under Regulation 35. Carriers use 38110; find out what code your business needs.
- Waste transfer note vs hazardous waste consignment note: which do you need?Hazardous waste (EWC code with an asterisk) needs a consignment note kept 3 years. Non-hazardous waste uses a waste transfer note kept 2 years.
- Do I need a waste transfer note?Yes — if your business produces, carries or receives non-hazardous waste and it changes hands, a waste transfer note is legally required. Here's when and why.
- How to complete a waste transfer note (with a checklist)A field-by-field guide to filling in a waste transfer note correctly: EWC code, SIC code, quantity, carrier registration, addresses, the waste hierarchy declaration and both signatures.
- How long do you need to keep a waste transfer note?You must keep a waste transfer note for at least 2 years, and a hazardous waste consignment note for at least 3 years, from the date of transfer.
- Are digital (electronic) waste transfer notes legal?Yes — electronic waste transfer notes are fully legal in the UK. No paper or wet-ink signature is required. Here's what makes a digital WTN valid.
- How to write a waste description that satisfies the regulatorAn adequate waste description names the waste, its physical characteristics, composition and whether it is hazardous. 'General waste' is not enough.
- What is a waste transfer note? Definition and legal requirementsA waste transfer note is a document recording the transfer of non-hazardous waste between parties under the section 34 duty of care.
EWC codes
- EWC chapter 02: food and agricultural waste codes explainedEWC chapter 02 covers food and agricultural waste in 38 codes across 7 subcategories. Only one code is hazardous: 02 01 08* (agrochemical waste).
- EWC chapter 03: wood, timber and pulp waste codes explainedEWC chapter 03 covers wood processing, wood preservation and pulp & paper waste in 19 codes — 6 hazardous. Treated timber and all wood preservative wastes are hazardous.
- EWC chapter 04: leather, fur and textile waste codes explainedEWC chapter 04 covers waste from leather, fur and textile industries: 21 codes, 4 hazardous. Chrome-tanning residues are not automatically hazardous.
- EWC chapter 07: organic chemical processes waste codes explainedEWC chapter 07 covers organic chemical process waste in 78 codes across 7 subcategories — plastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes, solvents and fine chemicals.
- EWC chapter 08: waste paints, coatings, adhesives and printing inks codes explainedEWC chapter 08 covers waste paints, adhesives, sealants and printing inks — 38 codes across 5 subcategories, 17 of which are hazardous.
- EWC chapter 11: surface treatment, electroplating and galvanising waste codes explainedEWC chapter 11 covers 27 waste codes across 4 subcategories — pickling acids, plating sludges, cyanide wastes and hot-dip galvanising residues. 16 codes are hazardous.
- EWC chapter 12: metalworking and machining waste codes explainedEWC chapter 12 covers metalworking waste in 23 codes across 2 subcategories — metal swarf, machining oils, cutting fluids, grinding sludge and degreasing wastes.
- EWC chapter 10: thermal processes waste codes explainedEWC chapter 10 covers wastes from thermal processes — power stations, metallurgy, glass, ceramics and cement — across 14 subcategories with many hazardous mirror entries.
- EWC chapter 13: oil and liquid fuel waste codes explainedEWC chapter 13 covers oil and liquid fuel waste in 32 hazardous codes across 7 subcategories — hydraulic oils, engine oils, bilge oils and liquid fuels.
- EWC chapter 14: waste organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants explainedEWC chapter 14 covers waste organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants — all 5 codes are hazardous. Covers HFCs, halogenated solvents and propellants.
- POPs waste explained: what persistent organic pollutants mean for your recordsPOPs waste must be classified as EWC 20 03 07, kept separate, and sent to an authorised incinerator — landfill is banned. The PBDE threshold is 500 mg/kg.
- EWC chapter 15: packaging waste and absorbent materials codes explainedEWC chapter 15 covers packaging waste and absorbents across 12 codes in 2 subcategories. Three codes are hazardous, including contaminated packaging.
- EWC chapter 16: wastes not otherwise specified — codes explainedEWC chapter 16 covers 72 codes across 11 subcategories including tyres, end-of-life vehicles, WEEE and batteries. 44 of the codes are hazardous.
- EWC chapter 17: construction & demolition waste codes explainedEWC chapter 17 covers construction and demolition wastes in 38 codes across 8 subcategories. Which are hazardous and how to choose the right one.
- EWC chapter 18: healthcare and clinical waste codes explainedEWC chapter 18 covers wastes from human and animal healthcare in 16 codes across 2 subcategories. Seven are hazardous — including infectious, cytotoxic and dental amalgam waste.
- EWC chapter 19: waste management and treatment facility codes explainedEWC chapter 19 covers 99 codes across 13 subcategories for wastes from treatment facilities — incineration ash, sewage sludge, landfill leachate and more.
- EWC chapter 20: municipal waste codes explainedEWC chapter 20 covers municipal and household waste in 40 codes across 3 subcategories — 20 01 to 20 03. Which are hazardous and which code to use.
- How to classify your waste: EWC codes, mirror entries and hazardous wasteClassify waste by matching it to a six-digit EWC code from the List of Waste. Codes marked * are hazardous; mirror entries need a hazard assessment.
Licensing & compliance
- What is controlled waste? The legal definition and duty-of-care implicationsControlled waste is household, commercial and industrial waste under s.75 EPA 1990 — it triggers the duty of care and waste transfer note requirements.
- Waste carrier licence renewal: when it expires and how to renewUpper-tier waste carrier registrations expire every three years with no grace period. How to check your expiry date and renew online before it lapses.
- Trade waste vs household waste: the duty-of-care rulesTrade waste vs household waste: business waste requires a WTN under the s.34 duty of care; household waste from a domestic property is exempt.
- Do sole traders need a waste carrier licence?Yes: sole traders must register as a waste carrier if they transport controlled waste in the course of business. No sole-trader exemption exists.
- Waste broker vs waste dealer: the difference and which you areA waste broker arranges waste recovery or disposal on behalf of others; a waste dealer buys and sells waste as a principal. Both need upper tier registration.
- How to check a waste carrier is registered (free EA, SEPA & NIEA lookup)Check if a waste carrier is registered for free using the EA, NRW, SEPA or NIEA public register. Covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Waste duty of care: what it means and how to complyThe waste duty of care (section 34 Environmental Protection Act 1990) applies to every business that deals with waste. Here's what it requires and how to comply.
- Waste carrier registration: upper vs lower tier explainedWho must register as a waste carrier, broker or dealer in the UK, and the difference between upper tier (fee, 3-year renewal) and lower tier (free, no renewal).
- Upper vs lower tier waste carrier registration explainedUpper tier vs lower tier waste carrier registration: upper tier costs £184 in England (renews every 3 years); lower tier is free and never expires.
- Hazardous waste consignment notes explainedA hazardous waste consignment note is the hazardous-waste version of a transfer note. You must keep it for at least 3 years. Here's who completes it and when.
- Waste returns explained: quarterly reporting for permitted sitesPermitted waste sites must submit periodic waste returns to their regulator — usually quarterly — reporting waste received and how it was recovered or disposed of.
- Waste tracking and duty of care across the UK: England, Scotland, Wales & Northern IrelandWaste regulation is devolved, so the regulator you deal with depends on your nation. Digital Waste Tracking is UK-wide with the same headline dates.
- Registered waste exemptions explained: T, S, U and D categories, fees and how to registerWaste exemptions let you carry out low-risk waste activities without a full permit. England has T, S, U and D categories; fees changed in July 2025.
- Simpler Recycling in England: what your workplace must doSimpler Recycling requires English workplaces with 10+ employees to separate food waste, dry recyclables and residual waste from 31 March 2025. Micro-firms follow by 31 March 2027.
- The waste hierarchy explained: 5 steps and the WTN declarationThe waste hierarchy is a legal 5-step priority order: prevent, prepare for reuse, recycle, other recovery, dispose. Every WTN must declare it applies.
- Waste carrier registration in Northern Ireland: NIEA rules, fees and how to applyWaste carrier registration in Northern Ireland is handled by NIEA. Upper tier costs £180 (new) or £90 (renewal); lower tier is free and lasts indefinitely.
- Waste carrier registration in Scotland: SEPA, EASR and how to applyWaste carrier registration in Scotland is regulated by SEPA under EASR. Since November 2025, you need an EASR-SC-035 or SC-036 authorisation to transport waste.
- Waste carrier registration in Wales: NRW, fees and how to applyWaste carrier registration in Wales is handled by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Upper tier costs £184 (new) or £126 (renewal); lower tier is free.
- Waste duty of care penalties: fines for missing or incorrect transfer notesFailing to produce a valid waste transfer note can bring a fixed penalty notice; duty of care breaches can lead to an unlimited fine on conviction.
Software
- Digital waste transfer note softwareDigital waste transfer note software lets drivers capture a compliant WTN on-site — offline, signed, GPS-stamped — and auto-emails a branded PDF. ComplyWaste from £39/mo.
- Offline waste transfer note app: capture WTNs with no signalAn offline waste transfer note app saves a complete, signed, legal WTN with no signal — the phone is the source of truth and it syncs when you're back. ComplyWaste from £39/mo.
- Best waste transfer note apps compared (2026)An honest, segmented comparison of the best waste transfer note apps in 2026 — ComplyWaste, QuickWasteNote, Wastrio, WasteBolt, PaperRoute and DigitalWTN — by who each one suits.
- Weighbridge tickets and waste records: getting receipt data rightA weighbridge ticket is your primary data capture for each incoming load. Since October 2026 that data must feed Digital Waste Tracking within 2 working days.
By industry
- Digital Waste Tracking for waste transfer stationsA waste transfer station is a receiver, so Digital Waste Tracking has been mandatory since 1 October 2026 — a Receipt of Waste within 2 working days of each load.
- Digital waste transfer notes for skip hire companiesSkip hire firms are upper-tier carriers and often run a transfer station too. Here are your WTN duties, the EWC codes you carry, and how a digital WTN app helps. From £39/mo.
- Digital waste transfer notes for construction and demolitionConstruction & demolition waste duties, C&D EWC codes, and why builders carrying their own waste need upper-tier carrier registration. Digital WTNs on-site with ComplyWaste from £39/mo.
- Digital waste transfer notes for house & office clearanceHouse, office & estate clearance firms are usually upper-tier carriers and must issue waste transfer notes. See the common EWC codes, POPs rules and how digital WTNs help.
- Digital waste transfer notes for grab hireGrab-hire and muckaway operators are upper-tier carriers moving C&D waste. Here's how digital waste transfer notes handle EWC codes, hazardous soil and fast on-site loading.
- Digital waste transfer notes for scrap metal dealersHow scrap metal dealers handle waste transfer notes, EWC codes and hazardous consignment notes — plus why you need a carrier registration AND a scrap metal dealer licence.
- Digital compliance for hazardous waste carriersHazardous waste uses a consignment note, not a WTN — kept 3 years, with a consignment code and HP codes. See how digital software gets it right roadside. ComplyWaste from £39/mo.