Digital Waste Tracking: what it is and when it starts
Last updated 5 October 2026
In short
Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is a mandatory UK government service for recording waste movements electronically, replacing paper transfer and consignment notes. It has been mandatory for waste receivers since 1 October 2026 in England and Wales (1 January 2027 in Northern Ireland and Scotland) and applies to waste carriers from October 2027.
Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is the biggest change to UK waste compliance in a generation. It moves the paper trail — waste transfer notes and hazardous waste consignment notes — into a single government digital service. Here is exactly what it is, who it affects, and when.
Key dates. Waste receivers — mandatory since 1 October 2026 (1 January 2027 in Northern Ireland and Scotland), submitting each receipt within 2 working days. Waste carriers — from October 2027.
What is Digital Waste Tracking?
It is being introduced by DEFRA (with the environmental regulators across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to give a single, accurate picture of waste from the point it is produced to its final destination. The aim is to cut waste crime, improve recycling data, and remove the duplicated paperwork that duty of care currently requires.
When does Digital Waste Tracking start?
This staggered rollout is the single most misunderstood part of the scheme — many summaries collapse it into one 2026 date. The two dates matter because most waste firms are one or the other first, and some (like a skip-hire company that also runs a permitted transfer station) are both.
| Role | What they do | Mandatory from |
|---|---|---|
| Waste receiver | Runs a permitted or licensed site that receives waste (transfer station, treatment, disposal). Records each load received. | October 2026 (E&W); January 2027 (NI & Scotland) |
| Waste carrier | Transports waste — skip hire, grab hire, clearance, haulage. Records the movements they carry. | October 2027 |
| Broker / dealer | Arranges waste movements without necessarily handling it. | In line with the carrier phase |
| Waste producer | Any business that produces waste and hands it to a carrier. | Phased in alongside the above |
Two nuances worth knowing: in Northern Ireland and Scotland the receiver deadline is 1 January 2027 rather than 1 October 2026, and receiving sites must submit each receipt to the service within 2 working days of the waste arriving.
What does Digital Waste Tracking replace?
Once you are in scope, a record in the tracking service takes the place of the paper documents you use today:
- Waste transfer notes (WTNs) for non-hazardous waste.
- Hazardous waste consignment notes for hazardous waste.
- The season-ticket / annual transfer note arrangements for repeat collections.
Until your start date, the existing duty-of-care rules still apply — you must keep waste transfer notes for at least 2 years and hazardous waste consignment notes for at least 3 years.
How do you record a movement?
Movements can be entered directly into the government service, or — more practically for a busy operation — submitted automatically from your own software through DEFRA's API. For permitted receiving sites, the Receipt of Waste API lets software you choose send each received load straight to the tracking service, with the waste codes, quantities, carrier and hazardous details validated on the way in.
How to prepare for Digital Waste Tracking
- Work out whether you are a receiver, a carrier, or both — that sets your deadline (2026 vs 2027).
- Get your waste data clean: correct EWC codes, quantities, and carrier registration details, since the service validates them.
- Move off paper early. Firms already capturing digital waste transfer notes will simply switch the destination to the tracking service — there is no data to re-key.
- Choose software that is DWT-ready and integrates with the API, rather than re-typing every movement into the government portal.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Digital Waste Tracking become mandatory?
- Digital Waste Tracking has been mandatory for waste receivers (permitted and licensed sites) since 1 October 2026 in England and Wales (1 January 2027 in Northern Ireland and Scotland), and applies to waste carriers from October 2027.
- Does Digital Waste Tracking replace waste transfer notes?
- Yes. Once you are in scope, recording a movement in the Digital Waste Tracking service replaces the paper waste transfer note or hazardous waste consignment note for that movement.
- Who has to use Digital Waste Tracking?
- Everyone who produces, handles, carries, receives, or disposes of waste in the UK will eventually be in scope. Waste receivers came first (since October 2026), followed by carriers (October 2027).
- Is there an API for Digital Waste Tracking?
- Yes. DEFRA provides a Receipt of Waste API so that software used by permitted receiving sites can submit waste receipts directly to the tracking service.
Related guides
This guide is general information from ComplyWaste, not legal advice. Always check the primary sources for your situation.