Digital Waste Tracking is live, and collectors are next
Since 1 October 2026, permitted and licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales have had to report waste receipts digitally. If you collect, carry or broker waste, the duty has not reached you directly yet, but it is coming, and it already shapes what receiving sites expect from you.
Published 2 October 2026 · 5 min read
What changed on 1 October
Phase 1 of Digital Waste Tracking applies to organisations licensed or permitted to receive waste, such as transfer stations, recycling centres, landfills and treatment sites. In England and Wales they must now report each receipt through Defra's Report receipt of waste service, directly or through compatible software. Northern Ireland and Scotland follow on 1 January 2027.
Why it already matters if you collect waste
The duty sits with the receiver, but receivers can only file an accurate digital record if every load arrives with accurate information: a correct EWC code, a defensible weight, and clean provenance. Collectors who deliver vague descriptions or estimated weights create work, and risk, for the sites they deliver to. Expect receiving sites to start asking for better data, and to prefer partners who can supply it.
Who is next, and when
| Who | When | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Waste receiving sites, England and Wales | 1 October 2026 | In force now |
| Waste receiving sites, Northern Ireland and Scotland | 1 January 2027 | Next milestone |
| Waste carriers, brokers and dealers | Invited group from autumn 2026, open to all from spring 2027, mandatory from October 2027 | Planned (Defra indicative timeline) |
Later-phase dates are Defra's planned timeline and may change. Defra has not published dates for other parts of the waste chain, such as waste producers. Check the latest Defra guidance.
What collectors should do in the next twelve months
- Build a controlled EWC catalogue. One correct code per waste stream, chosen from a list, not typed from memory. See our EWC codes guide.
- Record real weights. Weighbridge tickets and container weights should flow into the job record automatically.
- Keep carrier and broker licences current. Verify them regularly against the Environment Agency register. See waste carrier registration.
- Go digital on Waste Transfer Notes. A WTN generated and signed at the point of collection is the cleanest audit trail you can have.
- Run a parallel period. Test your digital process alongside the old one well before your phase starts.
Where AxiWaste fits
AxiWaste is built around exactly this chain: collection, weighing, EWC coding, digital Waste Transfer Notes and nightly licence checks in one system, so compliant records are a by-product of running your rounds. Axithorn, the company behind AxiWaste, has been approved as an official software provider by Defra and is listed on Defra's choose a software provider page. See how Digital Waste Tracking maps onto the platform.
Quick answers
Does it apply to collectors yet?
Not directly. The duty started for receiving sites in England and Wales. Carriers, brokers and dealers are the next phase, planned from October 2027.
When do carriers and brokers have to comply?
Defra plans an invited group from autumn 2026, open to all from spring 2027, and mandatory from October 2027. Treat these as planned dates.
What should I do now?
Sort your EWC catalogue, capture real weights, verify licences and move WTNs to digital, so the records are clean when your phase arrives.
Where does your operation stand?
The readiness check scores your current setup in two minutes, or book a walkthrough and we will map it onto your fleet.
Sources: Developing the digital waste tracking service (GOV.UK). Information correct as at 2 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Related reading: DWTS compliance guide · Digital Waste Tracking checklist