Casepak all set for Digital Waste Tracking legislation

In just 2 months, Digital Waste Tracking (DWT), the UK-wide initiative to modernise waste record-keeping and tackle waste crime, as set out under the Government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, will enter a new phase, and operators such as Casepak are getting ready to be able to provide our customers with data in almost real time.

From 1 October 2026 operators of sites that receive waste will be required to use a new digital waste tracking system to record waste movements in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (with requirements in Scotland expected to come into force in January 2027).

The new regulations will require site operators to track waste through a single digital system, replacing the existing, largely paper-based, processes of Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs) and consignment notes that were first designed in the 1990s. Using this paper-based system it was easy to misplace notes and even easier for rogue operators to exploit the system and the Government hopes that these changes will make it more challenging for illegal operators to play a role in the industry, which will reduce illegal waste disposal.

All operators who are required to hold a permit to receive waste will be impacted by the new regulations. These operators will need to record and input specified information about the waste received into the system, including details about the operator; the permitted facility; the transportation of the waste (i.e. mode of transport) and the parties involved (including any carrier, broker or dealer); a description of the waste (waste codes); and any hazardous properties (where relevant). This information must typically be entered into the system by the end of the second working day after receipt of waste.

The Government claims that waste crime costs the UK economy an estimated £1 billion each year. Affected communities are left with abandoned waste, pollution and the long-term environmental impact associated with the illegal activities of misdescribing waste which has been too easy with the use of paper notes.  The objective is that the system will help close the gaps experienced in the previous system.

At Casepak we have been preparing for the new regulations for a while and have all our systems and processes in place for the October 1st deadline. Our team has been working behind the scenes to ensure that our systems integrate directly with Defra, enabling us to provide our customers with data in almost real time.

The implementation of DWT is a major change for the industry, and we’re confident that it will have a positive effect on waste crimes, which is most welcome.

Any initiative that reduces the number of rogue operators will have a positive impact on the reputation of the waste and recycling industry, which performs a vital role in society but often gets a poor press due to a number of dubious operators.  Hopefully DWT will resolve this and the industry can soon wave goodbye to illegal waste transfers.