What has gone live
Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is the UK government's move away from paper and spreadsheet records of waste movements towards a single digital record. It is being introduced in phases. Phase 1 covers permitted and licensed waste receiving sites, such as recycling centres, transfer stations, landfills and treatment facilities.
From 1 October 2026, those sites in England and Wales must report the waste they receive digitally, either through Defra's Report receipt of waste service or through software that connects to it. Each report covers the details of the waste received, including its classification (EWC code) and weight.
The rollout timeline
| Who | Where | When | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permitted and licensed waste receiving sites | England and Wales | 1 October 2026 | In force now |
| Permitted and licensed waste receiving sites | Northern Ireland and Scotland | 1 January 2027 | Next milestone |
| Waste carriers, brokers and dealers | UK | From October 2027 | Planned (Defra indicative timeline) |
Dates for later phases are Defra's planned timeline and may change. Defra has not yet published dates for other organisations in the waste chain, such as waste producers. Always check the latest Defra guidance.
Who is next: carriers, brokers and dealers
Defra's plan is for waste carriers, brokers and dealers to be the next group brought into the service. According to Defra's published timeline, the service is expected to be available to an invited group of waste collectors from autumn 2026, open to all collectors from spring 2027, and mandatory from October 2027.
If your business collects, transports, brokers or deals in waste, that includes you. Skip hire firms, commercial and industrial collectors, and multi-depot fleets are all squarely in this group. The detailed reporting requirements for this phase are still to be confirmed by Defra, so the sensible approach is to get your records in order now rather than wait.
What operators should do now
- Check which phase applies to you. Receiving sites are already covered in England and Wales. Collectors, brokers and dealers should plan for October 2027.
- Get your waste classification right. Accurate EWC coding per waste stream, rather than a single guess per job, is the foundation of every digital record.
- Capture real weights. Weighbridge tickets and container weights need to flow into your records without re-keying.
- Keep carrier and broker licence details current. Duty of care checks are easier when licences are verified regularly rather than once at onboarding.
- Move off paper Waste Transfer Notes. Digital WTNs generated at the point of collection give you a clean audit trail as requirements extend to collectors.
- Choose software that works with Defra's service. Defra publishes a list of compatible software providers, and Axithorn is on it.
Where AxiWaste fits
Axithorn has been approved as an official software provider by Defra and is listed on Defra's Report receipt of waste: choose a software provider page. AxiWaste, our waste management platform built on Zoho, brings sales, dispatch, route planning, a driver app, digital Waste Transfer Notes with EWC coding and nightly carrier licence checks into one system, so the records Digital Waste Tracking depends on are produced as a by-product of running the operation rather than as extra paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Is Digital Waste Tracking mandatory now?
Yes, for permitted and licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales, since 1 October 2026. Northern Ireland and Scotland follow on 1 January 2027.
Does it apply to waste carriers, brokers and dealers?
Not yet. They are the next phase, planned by Defra from October 2027, with the service opening to them in stages beforehand.
Do I need special software?
Receiving sites can report through Defra's service directly or through compatible software. Defra publishes a list of compatible providers on GOV.UK.
Getting ready for the next phase?
Talk to us about how AxiWaste can put your collections, weights and Waste Transfer Notes on a single digital record.
Sources: Developing the digital waste tracking service (GOV.UK); Report receipt of waste: choose a software provider (GOV.UK). Information correct as at 2 October 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.