Introducing Digital Waste Tracking 

Implementation of mandatory digital waste tracking

(This applies to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

The new digital waste tracking service will mean for the first time we will have a comprehensive way to see what is happening to the waste produced in the UK, including where it is created, who is handling it, what is done to it and where it ends up.  

This will mean regulators can better detect illegal activity and tackle waste crime, including fly-tipping, illegal waste sites, and illegal waste exports. It will ensure that waste is only managed by authorised persons and in a safe manner. 

These changes will come into force from April 2025 – with the digital waste tracking service being publicly available to users on a voluntary basis from next year. 

It follows a government consultation on making digital waste tracking mandatory, using powers in the Environment Act to overhaul existing waste record keeping. Read the response to this consultation here.

While waste is generally a devolved matter, the waste tracking service will work best by taking a UK-wide approach in developing a single system for users, whether they are recording what happens to waste in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. Officials from across the UK governments have worked together to agree these proposals.​

Find out more  

Business Readiness Forum – Thursday 26 October 2023 – 9am-10am.

This session will provide an update on the three waste reforms - Simpler Recycling, Digital Waste Tracking and Carrier, Broker and Dealer regime. This forum is open to all that would like to find out more. To book your place please register here.