Digital Waste Tracking: the complete 2026 guide
Everything UK ITAD and WEEE operators need to know before the October 2026 mandate — and how to stay compliant without more admin.
The Digital Waste Tracking Service (DWTS) is DEFRA and the Environment Agency’s new mandatory system for recording waste movements electronically. It replaces the paper Waste Transfer Note — largely unchanged since the 1990s — with a single digital record for every load of controlled waste, including IT hardware, when it arrives at a permitted site.
For IT asset disposal (ITAD) and WEEE operators, this is the biggest compliance change in a generation. If you collect, receive or carry IT equipment for disposal, DWTS affects you.
The timeline you need to know
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 28 April 2026 | DWTS public beta goes live |
| October 2026 | Mandatory for waste-receiving sites (England, Wales, NI) |
| January 2027 | Scotland joins with the same requirements |
| October 2027 | Mandatory for waste carriers |
Organisations that create or edit records pay a small annual charge (around £26) for rolling access, from the mandatory phase.
DWTS does not replace WEEE or data destruction
A compliant ITAD partner therefore has to provide a clean, continuous audit trail: DWTS movement records, serial-level data-destruction certificates, and a documented chain of custody — which together prove compliance under UK GDPR, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, the WEEE Regulations and waste duty of care.
What waste-receiving sites must do
- Register for the Digital Waste Tracking Service before the mandatory phase.
- Log every incoming load of controlled waste, including IT hardware, as a digital record.
- Keep records for the statutory retention period (two years for standard notes; longer for hazardous).
- Continue to issue WEEE evidence and data-destruction certificates — DWTS does not cover these.
- Make the whole chain auditable end to end.
How WipeTrail makes DWTS painless
WipeTrail structures every device movement into a DWTS-ready record automatically, and keeps it next to the WEEE evidence and the data-destruction certificate for the same device. One system, one chain of custody, one audit trail — instead of a spreadsheet, a paper note and a separate certificate tool. You stay compliant as the mandate lands, without adding admin.
Frequently asked questions
When does Digital Waste Tracking become mandatory?
It is mandatory for waste-receiving sites from October 2026, for waste carriers from October 2027, and Scotland joins in January 2027, following a public beta from 28 April 2026.
Does DWTS replace WEEE compliance?
No. DWTS replaces the paper Waste Transfer Note for recording movements, but you still need WEEE evidence notes and data-destruction certificates for every IT disposal.
How much does DWTS cost?
Organisations that create or edit records pay a small annual charge (around 26 pounds) for rolling access, from the mandatory phase.
How does WipeTrail help with DWTS?
WipeTrail turns every device movement into a DWTS-ready record automatically and keeps it alongside the WEEE evidence and data-destruction certificate for the same device.
Ready when you are
See WipeTrail on your own kit.
Book a 20-minute demo and we’ll walk the whole flow — collection to certified wipe to resale — and show how fast you could be live before the DWTS deadline.
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