On the Horizon: Digital Waste Tracking becomes mandatory from October 2026

After the implementation date for digital waste tracking was delayed, mandatory reporting is now almost here. From 1st October 2026, it will become mandatory for all waste receivers to use the service in England and Wales (January 2027 in Scotland and Northern Ireland), with wider expansion across the waste chain anticipated in later phases.

Originally planned for April 2025, the tracking service was delayed following feedback from industry stakeholders and delivery partners indicating that this April 2025 deadline presented significant challenges. Defra further outlined that delaying would ensure the new IT service is fit for purpose and increase confidence levels that the needs of stakeholder groups are met. In addition, the delay would ensure comprehensive testing of the new service. 

With the implementation date just around the corner, waste receivers should check they are ready! 

Why digital waste tracking?

There are currently different processes for different types of waste movements. Large amounts of data recorded through these processes are either not collected or not collated centrally. At national level, it is therefore very difficult to determine where waste is being generated and what happens to it. At local level, it is difficult for waste producers to check that their waste has been handled appropriately. This lack of transparency makes it easier for waste criminals to operate. 

Defra states digitising waste tracking will help tackle waste crime by making it:

• easier for waste producers and legitimate waste companies to comply with reporting requirements
• harder for rogue operators to compete in the industry and commit waste crime, from fly-tipping to illegal waste sites to illegal waste exports

The legislation

The Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026 and The Digital Waste Tracking (Wales) Regulations 2026 (“the Regulations”) come into force on 1st October 2026. The explanatory memorandum to the Regulations gives an overview of the Regulations stating they:

• establish an electronic (digital) system for tracking movements of controlled waste 
• place mandatory requirements on operators of sites where controlled waste is received for management to record information about that waste and ensure that information is entered into the digital system using approved software
• are aimed at reducing waste crime, providing a comprehensive data set for policy making and supporting the government’s ambitions for a circular economy

Once the system becomes mandatory there will be an upfront annual charge of £26 that grants 12 months of rolling access to the service. 

Public beta

Defra has launched a public beta to help software developers and waste receivers prepare for the mandatory changes to the reporting of waste movements. Available from 28th April 2026, all permitted waste receiving sites are encouraged to sign up and start uploading data. More information can be found here.

New guidance published

In August 2026, Defra and the Welsh government published Digital waste tracking: check if you need to report the waste you receive. The ‘Report receipt of waste’ service must be used by licensed and permitted receivers of controlled waste in England and Wales to record every load received. Records must be submitted within two working days, starting on the day after the waste is received. If the new Regulations are not complied with offenders could face either a:

• compliance notice
• enforcement cost recovery notice
• variable monetary penalty of an unlimited amount
• fixed monetary penalty of £1,000
• criminal prosecution and, if convicted, an unlimited fine

Schedule 1 of the Regulations provide more information on what data to submit. 

Notes and returns to be submitted outside the service

Until further notice, waste transfer notes and hazardous waste consignment notes, and waste returns and hazardous waste consignee returns must continue to be submitted alongside using the ‘Report receipt of waste’ service.

The future

Defra intends to introduce phase 2 of the changes from Spring 2027. This will extend the digital waste tracking service to waste collectors (carriers, brokers and dealers).