The Roll‑Out of Digital Waste Tracking in the UK: What You Need to Know

From 1 October 2026, operators of sites that receive waste will be required to use a new digital waste tracking system (“DWTS”) to record waste movements in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (with requirements in Scotland expected to come into force in January 2027). Westminster and the devolved administrations are taking steps to legislate for these changes. Regulations in Wales have been introduced (Digital Waste Tracking (Wales) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/105)) and, in England, draft regulations were laid on 23 April 2026 (Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026).  

The movement to digital waste tracking forms part of a UK-wide initiative to modernise waste record-keeping and tackle waste crime as set out under the Government’s Waste Crime Action Plan (see our previous blog on this here), and is a feature of the broader regulatory reforms to the waste sector. The new regulations will require the tracking of waste through a single digital system, replacing the existing and largely paper-based processes. The Government hopes that these changes will make it more challenging for illegal operators to play a role in the industry and reduce illegal waste disposal. 

DWTS Phase 1 

The new English and Welsh regulations introduce Phase 1 of mandatory digital waste tracking. The regulations apply to operators of waste receiving sites, i.e. those required to hold a permit to receive waste. These operators will need to record and input specified information about the waste received into the DWTS. Sites operating under waste exemptions are not included in Phase 1 (but are expected to be included in Phase 2). 

The information which must be entered on the DWTS includes details about: the operator; the permitted facility; the transportation of the waste (i.e. mode of transport) and the parties involved (including any carrier, broker or dealer); a description of the waste (waste codes); and any hazardous properties (where relevant). This information must typically be entered into the system by the end of the second working day after receipt of waste.

Defra is planning to deliver an “application programming interface” that integrates with operators’ existing software and allows those operators to  capture the relevant waste data automatically through the interface. For operators who do not currently have software that supports them to manage the movement of waste, Defra is developing an alternative method of submitting data through a spreadsheet. This secondary method is intended to be temporary so that operators have time to acquire software to support their compliance with DWTS, and is expected to remain in place until at least October 2027. 

These regulations do not affect the current requirements on operators to complete and keep written descriptions of waste (waste transfer or consignment notes) that currently apply to the transfer of waste and hazardous waste. As such, those existing requirements for paper records will continue to apply in addition to the new digital recording requirements. 

Waste operators who must use the DWTS will need to pay an annual service charge of £26.

For this Phase 1, commercial waste received at household waste recycling centres is excluded in Wales. However, household waste recycling centre operators in England will need to comply with the new regime in Phase 1.

Failure to comply with the regulations is a criminal offence and can result in enforcement by the Environment Agency or Natural Resources (through fines or civil penalties). 

DWTS Phase 2 

Phase 2, which is expected to be mandatory from October 2027, will extend the DWTS to other actors within the waste sector (namely waste collectors – carriers, brokers and dealers), and once the digital platform is sufficiently developed. It is expected that the digital tracking of waste will eventually extend across the entire waste chain. 

Impact on the waste sector and next steps

Implemented fully and successfully, DWTS should make it simpler, easier and faster to record and track waste from point of production through to its final treatment or disposal, providing streamlined requirements for businesses and more reliable data for regulators, helping them to identify suspicious activity and target illegal operators.

Businesses affected by Phase 1 should use the time prior to implementation from October 2026 to prepare by reviewing IT (software) capability, updating internal procedures, and training relevant teams. The Government is currently encouraging permitted waste receiving sites to participate in a voluntary beta test of the digital system, which follows the private beta phase that has been running since autumn 2025, and so in scope companies should consider participating in this as part of their preparations. More information on joining can be found here. 

Those in the waste sector who can expect to be in scope for Phase 2 currently, should continue to monitor the introduction of DWTS. 

Although elements of the original timetable for DWTS across all 4 nations continue to slip, further planned dates for the roll-out are set out in the Government’s guidance and are as follows:

Phase 1 (service designed for waste receivers): 

• from spring 2026 – digital waste tracking service to be available publicly for all permitted and licensed receiving site operators to use (public beta phase);
• by summer 2026 – all nations to have laid secondary legislation to mandate the use of the service by receiving site operators from October 2026;
• from October 2026 – service mandatory for receiving site operators in Wales, Northern Ireland and England;
• January 2027 – service mandatory for receiving site operators in Scotland. 

Phase 2 (service designed for waste collectors – carriers, brokers and dealers):

• from autumn 2026 – digital waste tracking service to be available to an invited group of waste collectors in increasing numbers (private beta phase);
• from spring 2027 – digital waste tracking service to be available publicly for all waste collectors (public beta phase);
• from October 2027 – digital waste tracking service mandatory for waste collectors.

The long over-due introduction of DWTS has been welcomed by many, but only once the DWTS is extended across the whole sector and all four nations, can its value and impact be fully assessed.

If you would like to discuss any of these developments, or require guidance to navigate these changes, please get in touch with Mike Barlow, Victoria Barnes or Lucinda Huntsman.

This article was written by Victoria Barnes and Lucinda Huntsman.

Digital Waste Tracking is a central part of the UK’s strengthened regulatory approach to waste management.

https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2026/04/30/digital-waste-tracking-goes-live-a-major-step-forward-in-stopping-waste-crime/