Preparing for Digital Waste Tracking and what it means for your business
Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is a new government service for recording and sharing information about waste. It will make waste information easier to manage and help tackle waste crime.
As a waste management broker, we arrange collections and destinations on behalf of our clients. We do not collect the waste ourselves.
The company that collects a clients waste is responsible for transporting it lawfully and for the documentation that travels with it. We’ve created this blog to explain the changes, what we are doing with our suppliers and what we recommend our clients do next.
Timeline
Phase 1 – waste receiving sites
From October 2026, permitted waste receiving sites in England, Northern Ireland and Wales must record and report the waste they receive using Digital Waste Tracking. Scotland follows from January 2027.
Waste sites can already take part in the public beta and are encouraged to get ready now. Existing reporting methods stay in place for now. Waste Transfer Notes, consignment notes and returns are not being withdrawn overnight, Digital Waste Tracking is being added alongside current duties.
Phase 2 – other waste industry organisations
From October 2027, Digital Waste Tracking is planned to apply to waste carriers, waste brokers, waste dealers and waste exporters. Organisations across the industry will then need to create, share and manage digital waste records.
What this means for our clients
Waste producers are not being asked to use the Digital Waste Tracking service in Phase 1, however, your duty of care still applies. You must transfer waste to an authorised person, accurately describe it, and keep the paperwork.
The supplier that collects your waste is responsible for the collection, the movement and the transfer documentation issued for that movement. Destination sites are responsible for recording what they receive once Phase 1 becomes mandatory.
What we are doing as a broker
We are checking with our suppliers who collect waste on behalf of our clients, and with the sites that receive that waste to confirm they know about Phase 1 and are preparing for implementation.
We are asking them
- Whether they understand the Phase 1 requirements for receiving sites
- What they are doing to prepare
- Whether any changes could affect collections or paperwork, do they foresee any challenges or concerns with the transition
- What software they are using and how their software provider will support Digital Waste Tracking
- In addition, we are reminding all suppliers what must be included on all Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs)
Customers do not need to implement Digital Waste Tracking but we do recommend that keep complete Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs) for every collection and read official updates as the service rolls out. Official guidance GOV.UK Digital waste tracking service
If you have questions about how this affects the service we provide, please contact us 01484 660770.
