UK Regulatory Change

The UK Government, led by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), is introducing a mandatory Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) service to replace fragmented paper-based waste records with a centralised digital system that tracks waste movements from generation to final treatment. This change is part of broader reforms under the UK Resources & Waste Strategy and aims to improve transparency, reduce waste crime, and support a circular economy.

Implementation Timeline

Phased Rollout

• Autumn 2025 – Private Beta: Selected operators begin testing the system.
• Spring 2026 – Public Beta: The service opens to all permitted and licensed waste receiving sites for early adoption and testing. 
• October 2026 – Mandatory Phase 1: All permitted or licensed waste receiving sites must use the digital waste tracking service to record waste they receive. Paper Waste Transfer Notes will no longer be accepted for compliance purposes in this phase. 
• By April 2027 – Phase 2 Expansion: The mandate is expected to extend to waste carriers, brokers, dealers and operators under registered exemptions (timeline subject to final confirmation).  

Who it applies to

Initial Scope (Mandatory from October 2026)

• Permitted and licensed waste receiving sites, such as recycling centres, landfills, transfer stations and treatment facilities. 
• These operators must record digital details of waste received, including type, quantity, origin, and destination. 

Future Phases

• Carriers, brokers, dealers, and other waste handlers will also be required to use the digital system once Phase 2 is enacted (expected by April 2027).

What must be recorded

Under the new system, digital records will replace traditional paper Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs) and must include key details for each movement:

• Waste classification codes (e.g., European Waste Catalogue)
• Unique waste tracking reference for each transfer
• Details of the organisation sending the waste and the organisation receiving it
• Waste quantity, material type, and destination
• Intended treatment or disposal outcome (e.g., recycling, landfill)

Why it’s being introduced

Key policy goals

1. Improve transparency: Create a single, auditable digital trail for all waste movements across the UK. 
2. Combat waste crime: Illegal activities — such as fly-tipping, misclassification, and operation of unlicensed sites — cost the UK economy an estimated £1 billion a year; digital tracking will make such behaviour harder to hide. 
3. Support environmental protection: Better data helps ensure waste is correctly handled, treated and disposed of, reducing environmental harm. 
4. Enable a circular economy: Accurate tracking data helps all stakeholders improve resource recovery and recycling outcomes.

How it will work in practice

Submission Options

The digital tracking service will allow multiple ways to submit waste movement data:

• Direct manual input through the government platform
• CSV bulk uploads for high-volume users
• API integration with commercial waste management systems for seamless automation

Practical Impact for businesses

Compliance

• Operators must move away from paper WTNs and record movements digitally by the applicable deadlines. 

Enforcement

• During initial rollout, regulators will focus on support and education, before moving to civil enforcement actions for non-compliance if necessary.