DWTN UK

DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking

A connected record
of where waste goes.

The UK-wide digital service is being introduced in phases to improve traceability, strengthen oversight and make waste data easier to share.

The current position

Receiving sites first. Wider changes later.

ENGLAND & WALES

1 October 2026

Mandatory receipt reporting began for in-scope permitted or licensed receiving operations, with specific exceptions.

SCOTLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND

1 January 2027

Phase 1 becomes mandatory for in-scope receiving facilities. Check your regulator’s scope and exclusions.

THE WIDER WASTE CHAIN

Planned: October 2027

Wider phase 2 requirements remain under development. This is a published plan, not a universal deadline already in force.

Two related records

Keep your WTN. Report the receipt.

WASTE TRANSFER NOTE

Documents the handover

A WTN records a non-hazardous transfer. Existing transfer-note and applicable consignment-note requirements continue.

DEFRA RECEIPT REPORT

Reports waste received

In-scope receivers submit receipt data to the government service. England and Wales require submission within two working days, counted from the day after receipt.

Confirm the submission outcome and government reference separately from creating the document.

DWTN UK & DEFRA

Digital records. Connected reporting.

DWTN UK provides digital waste transfer notes and supports integration with DEFRA’s Digital Waste Tracking service for applicable waste receipt reporting, subject to the relevant regulatory requirements and eligibility criteria. An organisation administrator can add the organisation’s DEFRA API code and enable the connection. The integration validates receipt details, submits applicable reports and checks their status and any returned government reference.

Not every waste transfer currently needs a DEFRA submission. Requirements depend on the type of movement, your role, the nation and the rollout phase. A WTN does not itself submit a DEFRA report; keeping the transfer record and reporting a receipt are distinct obligations.

Ask about DEFRA reporting ↗