Digital waste tracking: what businesses need to know
The new government service for recording waste movements: who must use it, from when, and how to get ready.
What is digital waste tracking?
It is a government service that records waste as it moves, replacing paper-based records over time. The aim is to make it much harder for waste to disappear into illegal sites, and to give a clearer picture of what happens to waste across the UK.
Who must use it, and when
| Who | When |
|---|---|
| Permitted and licensed receiving sites, England and Wales | From 1 October 2026 |
| Receiving sites, Scotland and Northern Ireland | From 1 January 2027 |
| Waste carriers, brokers and dealers | Public beta planned from spring 2027, mandatory planned from October 2027 |
Later phases, such as waste exemptions, have no date yet. Dates for carriers are plans and could change, so check GOV.UK.
How records are sent
Most businesses will send records through waste software that connects to the government service (its API). A temporary spreadsheet option is planned for receiving sites without software. GOV.UK keeps a list of software providers that have connected to the service, but the list is not an endorsement and you remain responsible for meeting the rules.
How to get ready
- Check whether your site or business is in the first phase.
- Look at how you record waste now: weighbridge tickets, transfer notes, load logs.
- Ask your software provider whether it connects to the service and which test scenarios it passed.
- If you are a carrier, start keeping digital records now so the change in 2027 is smaller.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
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