The waste industry is entering a major period of change, with the introduction of Digital Waste Tracking across the UK.
The new system is being introduced by the UK environmental regulators to create a clearer, more consistent digital record of where waste comes from, where it goes and what happens to it.
For businesses producing, carrying, receiving or managing waste, this will mean changes to the way waste movements are recorded and reported.
The new system is being introduced in stages. From 1 October 2026, permitted and licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales will be required to record waste received through the new digital system. Northern Ireland and Scotland will follow from January 2027. The system is currently being rolled out and tested ahead of the mandatory deadlines. The Government plans to expand Digital Waste Tracking to cover the wider waste industry in later phases, creating a more complete digital record of waste movements from the point waste is produced through to its final destination.
If you use Budget Skips for your waste, you will still need to provide accurate information about the waste you are disposing of.
Digital Waste Tracking does not change the basic responsibility of a waste producer to correctly describe their waste and ensure it is handled by an appropriately authorised waste business.
However, as the new system develops, the information currently recorded on waste transfer notes and other waste documentation will increasingly be captured digitally.
This makes it even more important that:
At the moment, waste movements are recorded using paperwork such as Waste Transfer Notes and Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes.
Digital Waste Tracking is designed to move this information into a central digital system.
Instead of relying solely on paper records, information about waste movements will be recorded digitally and made available to the relevant environmental regulators.
The aim is to give regulators better visibility of the waste chain and help identify illegal waste activity, including waste crime and inappropriate disposal.
Waste is produced → collected → transported → received → treated/recycled/disposed of
The new system is intended to create a digital record of that journey.
The waste industry is facing increasing levels of regulation, and environmental regulators are placing greater emphasis on being able to demonstrate exactly where waste has come from and where it has gone.
Digital Waste Tracking is intended to provide regulators with faster and more reliable information about waste movements, helping them identify suspicious activity and improve enforcement against illegal waste operators.
For legitimate waste businesses, accurate record keeping and compliance will therefore become increasingly important.
Earlier this year, we made Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs) compulsory for all loads coming into our waste tipping facility.
We introduced this as the first stage in preparing our customers for the changes ahead. By making WTNs part of the process now, we have given our customers time to become familiar with providing the required information before the new requirements become mandatory.
As a permitted waste receiving facility, we will be required to record waste received through the new Digital Waste Tracking system from 1 October 2026. Our systems are being updated throughout September in preparation for this requirement.
While we have been taking a pragmatic approach to enforcing the WTN requirement during this transition period, the introduction of Digital Waste Tracking means that accurate and complete waste information will become increasingly important. We will need to collect and record more detailed information about waste movements than we have previously.
Our priority is to make this transition as straightforward as possible for our customers, while continuing to provide a reliable, responsible and compliant waste management service.
The most important thing you can do is provide accurate information about your waste.
The requirements will depend on whether you are using one of our skips or bringing waste directly to our waste tipping facility.
Please make sure that the waste you place in your skip is:
✔ Correctly described
✔ Properly segregated
✔ Free from prohibited or undeclared materials
You should also ensure that we have the correct location where the waste is being produced, particularly if this is different from your business or billing address.
If we identify waste that has been incorrectly described, contaminated or contains materials that we are not permitted to accept, we may need to refuse the load or apply additional charges, in accordance with our terms and conditions.
If you are bringing waste directly to our waste tipping facility, you will be required to complete a Waste Transfer Note (WTN) before tipping.
The WTN collects the information we need about the waste and its journey, including:
✔ Where the waste has come from
✔ What type of waste you are bringing
✔ The quantity of waste
✔ How the waste is contained or transported
✔ Who is responsible for the waste
✔ Where the waste is being taken
It is important that the information provided on the WTN is accurate and complete. This information will form an important part of the records we are required to maintain as Digital Waste Tracking is introduced.
If the information provided does not accurately describe the waste being presented, or the load contains waste that we are not permitted to accept, we may need to refuse the load or apply additional charges, in accordance with our terms and conditions.
Please don’t wait until the new legislation comes into force to get used to these requirements.
By providing accurate information now, you can help us make the transition to Digital Waste Tracking as smooth as possible and, importantly, help ensure your waste can be accepted without unnecessary delays or additional charges.
Digital Waste Tracking is being introduced in phases. The first phase focuses on permitted waste receiving sites, but the system is expected to expand to other parts of the waste industry as the rollout progresses.
We will continue to monitor these changes and keep our customers informed as further requirements are introduced.
We believe that keeping our customers informed and working together will help make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone.
If you have any questions about how these changes may affect your business, your skip hire or your waste collections, please speak to our team. We are here to help you understand what is required and make sure you are prepared.
Budget Skips Coventry
Responsible waste management for businesses across Coventry & Warwickshire