Guides to digital waste tracking

Plain answers for waste carriers, brokers and dealers. Each one says what has been published, what has not, and when we last checked.

• Digital waste tracking for carriers, brokers and dealers: dates and what to do now

  Receiving sites already have to record waste digitally. For waste carriers, brokers and dealers, Defra's published timeline is a public beta in spring 2027 and mandatory use expected from October 2027.

• The two working day rule for digital waste tracking, explained

  Receiving sites must record waste by the end of the second working day after it arrives. Weekends and bank holidays do not count.

• What happens if you do not record waste with Defra

  Once recording is mandatory for you, failing to do it is a criminal offence, and the regulators have a range of tools short of prosecution.

• How to check a waste carrier registration, and what the numbers mean

  Search by name or registration number on the Environment Agency public register. It shows who holds the number, the tier and, for upper tier, when it runs out.

• Recording hazardous waste and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

  Hazardous waste needs its hazard properties, the dangerous components and how much of each, and a consignment note code. Waste containing POPs needs the pollutant names and concentrations.

Last checked 26 October 2026. These guides are information, not legal advice.