From 28 April 2026, permitted operators receiving waste onto their site are encouraged to start using the new digital service to record receipt of waste. This marks the start of a phased transition for everyone involved in the handling of waste to record waste movements digitally.
Although participation is voluntary from April, the move to mandatory digital reporting has been laid in legislation. All affected organisations will be legally required to use the service from October 2026 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and from January 2027 in Scotland. Operators should treat preparation as essential rather than optional.
Digital Waste Tracking is a central part of the UK’s strengthened regulatory approach to waste management. It will eventually replace fragmented and inconsistent systems with a single digital service. When it becomes mandatory, any permitted site that receives waste must comply with the new requirements. Failure to do so will be considered non-compliant and may lead to enforcement action.
Why does this matter?Waste crime costs the UK economy an estimated £1bn each year. Communities are left with pollution, abandoned waste and the long-term environmental impact of illegal activity. Many of these issues are enabled by poor record keeping, falsified paperwork and inconsistent processes. Paper notes and current reporting methods make it too easy for waste to be misdescribed, lost within the chain, giving criminal operators freedom to act without scrutiny.
Digital Waste Tracking will help close these gaps. The service will create a clear and near real-time record of where waste goes and who is responsible for it. Operators will benefit from a service that makes it simpler to comply with regulations and levels the playing field for legitimate businesses by tackling waste crime. Operators who fail to meet their legal duties will be easier for us to detect and are more likely to be investigated.
What the new service will doReceipt of waste is the first part of Digital Waste Tracking, giving permitted waste receiving sites access to record waste digitally through either an application programming interface (API) linking directly to their waste management software, or through a simple to use spreadsheet.
Permitted waste reciving sites must use the service from October 2026A temporary alternative submission route will be available during the transition period. Permitted waste sites must use Digital Waste Tracking once it becomes mandatory in October.
Initally we will not be moving away from current reporting methods. This means operators must also continue to complete hazardous waste consignee returns, quarterly waste returns, consignment notes and waste transfer notes as normal alongside using the Digital Waste Tracking to record receipt of waste movements.
Non-compliance will lead to enforcementOnce the service becomes mandatory, organisations will be required by law to use it correctly. Failure to comply will constitute a breach of waste regulations. Regulators will use the enforcement powers available to them where organisations do not meet their obligations. These powers include formal warnings, statutory notices, civil penalties, suspension or revocation of permits, and prosecution where the circumstances justify it. Penalties can be significant and may affect an organisation’s ability to continue operating within the waste sector. As we move to digital reporting, non-compliance will be easier to detect and harder to conceal.
Building barriers against waste crimeDigital reporting will give regulators more clear, consistent and accurate data. This will strengthen oversight of waste movements across the UK and help identify unusual patterns that may indicate unlawful behaviour. It will support earlier interventions and provide the evidence needed to take firm enforcement action. Responsible businesses will benefit from a more transparent and fair system in which compliance is easier to demonstrate.
Waste carriers, brokers and dealers will be next
Work has already begun to apply Digital Waste Tracking to waste carriers, brokers and dealers, so we encourage this group to begin preparing now. Discovery work has also started on Article 18 Green List Waste. This includes Annex VII which is the formal format/paperwork, that falls under the formal regulatory rules, which Article 18 Controls for shipping waste across international boundaries. Early engagement will help ensure the service meets operational needs while supporting compliance.
Sign up earlyDigital Waste Tracking is one of the most significant regulatory changes in a generation. Mandatory use is approaching and organisations that do not prepare will face the risk of non-compliance and potential penalties. Signing up now is the most effective way to ensure readiness and to help shape the final service.
If you would like further information on the service please visit our dedicated GOV.UK page at Digital waste tracking service - GOV.UK.
Get involvedWhat would make digital reporting easier for your organisation? Your feedback will help us continue to improve the service.
Please call our dedicated Digital Waste Tracking Helpdesk on 03000 203 781 (open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm) or leave a comment.
seen at 18:40, 30 April in Creating a better place.