The way waste is tracked across the UK is changing, with the government introducing a new Digital Waste Tracking system designed to provide greater visibility over where waste comes from, where it goes and how it is handled.
The first mandatory phase came into effect on 1 October 2026, marking an important change for the waste industry and the beginning of a wider move towards digital waste records across the UK.
What Is Digital Waste Tracking?
Digital Waste Tracking is a new government system that will eventually create a digital record of waste movements throughout the waste chain. Currently, waste information is recorded through a mixture of paper and digital systems. This can create gaps in the information available to regulators and make it more difficult to build a complete picture of how waste is being handled.
The new system is intended to provide more consistent and timely information about waste movements, creating a clearer audit trail from the point waste is produced through to its final destination.
It will also support efforts to tackle waste crime. The government estimates that waste crime and poorly performing waste sites cost the UK economy around £1 billion each year. Greater visibility of waste movements should make it easier for regulators to identify suspicious activity and take action against illegal operators.
What Changed on 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, organisations permitted or licensed to receive controlled waste in England and Wales must use the government’s new Report Receipt of Waste service.
Receiving sites are required to submit details of every applicable load of waste they receive. Records generally need to be submitted within two working days, beginning the day after the waste is received. This is the first stage of a wider rollout rather than the complete Digital Waste Tracking system.
For now, existing reporting requirements have not simply disappeared. Relevant operators must continue completing existing documentation and reporting, such as waste transfer notes, consignment notes and waste returns, where required, alongside the new system.
What Happens Next?
Digital Waste Tracking is being introduced in phases. The next major phase will bring waste collectors, including carriers, brokers and dealers, into the system. Private testing is planned from autumn 2026, followed by a public beta from spring 2027.
The government currently plans to make use of Digital Waste Tracking mandatory for waste collectors from October 2027. As the system continues to roll out, more waste movements will be recorded digitally, helping to create a clearer and more consistent record of how waste is managed across the UK.
Keeping Your Waste Management Compliant
Digital Waste Tracking is another significant change for the waste industry, alongside requirements such as Simpler Recycling. For businesses, good waste management isn’t just about arranging collections. You also need to understand what waste your organisation produces, separate it correctly where required and ensure it is being collected and managed by appropriate providers.
At BSG Waste, we help businesses manage their commercial waste with collections tailored to the types and volumes of waste they produce. From general waste and mixed recycling to food and glass waste, we can help you put the right bins, collection frequencies and waste arrangements in place.
Need help reviewing your business waste collections? Get in touch with BSG Waste today to discuss a waste solution tailored to your business.