Digital Waste Tracking for Permitted Waste Sites
Digital waste tracking for permitted waste sites is easier than it sounds when the app does the work for you. Phase 1 applies now: report every load received within 2 working days (England & Wales from Oct 2026, Scotland & NI from Jan 2027). We build a bespoke app around how your business runs, so every load is captured once, every waste transfer note is digital and every record reaches Defra on time.
How Digital waste tracking for permitted waste sites Works
Digital waste tracking for permitted waste sites works by capturing each load once at the point it's received, then using that record for your waste transfer note and your Defra submission. Your bespoke app records the EWC code, weight and source of every load as it comes in.
That single record then feeds the Receipt of Waste API automatically, removing the need for office staff to re-key the same details into a separate reporting system.
When Permitted Waste Receiving Sites Must Comply
Phase 1 makes digital waste tracking mandatory for licensed and permitted waste receiving sites from 1 October 2026 in England and Wales, and from 1 January 2027 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Every load received must be reported within 2 working days, excluding weekends and bank holidays, starting the day after receipt.
Phase 2, planned for October 2027, is expected to extend digital waste tracking to waste carriers, brokers and dealers, with a public beta from spring 2027 and private beta from autumn 2026.
What You'll Need to Record
For each load received, you'll need the EWC code, weight, date, and details of the controlled waste and where it came from. This applies across landfills, treatment facilities, recycling centres and HWRC commercial waste sites in England, and is regulated by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA or DAERA/NIEA depending on where your site is.
Your environmental permit or waste management licence already sets out what you're authorised to accept; digital waste tracking adds the requirement to report receipt of waste for each load within the 2-day window.
Example EWC codes you might record are below, but always check the current List of Wastes before relying on any code.
| EWC Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 17 01 07 | Mixed construction and demolition waste (non-hazardous) |
| 19 12 12 | Other wastes from mechanical treatment of waste |
| 20 03 01 | Mixed municipal waste |
| 20 01 36 | Discarded electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, non-hazardous) |
A Bespoke App Built Around Your Operation
We build one app covering CRM, planning, dispatch, unlimited drivers, live driver tracking and compliance, matched to how your site actually operates rather than a generic template. It's set up for you, with training for your office and site staff included.
Because the app is bespoke, it can reflect the specific permit conditions, waste streams and reporting routines of your site, whether you're a single facility or operate several across different regulators.
From Paper or Spreadsheet to Digital
Many permitted sites still log receipts on paper or in a spreadsheet, which makes the 2-day reporting deadline harder to hit reliably. Moving to a bespoke app digitises every part of the job, so weighbridge or gate staff capture the record once and it flows straight through to your waste transfer note and your Defra report.
See how it works for the steps we follow to move your site from its current process to a fully digital one, and read our guide to mandatory digital waste tracking for the wider timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
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