Digital Waste Tracking
- Waste receivers are now able to register online, ahead of the changes. Click the button above to get started -
Sites registered with Waste Exemptions are not included in phase 1, as this phase only applies to permitted sites that receive waste. Therefore, the following information applies only to sites holding an Environmental Permit.
Any enquiries regarding permits or exemptions must be directed to the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506.
What is Digital Waste Tracking (DWT)?
From October 2026 (January 2027 in Scotland), all organisations that are licensed or permitted to receive waste must use the new report receipt of waste service, known as the Digital Waste Tracking service.
DWT is a UK government initiative, whereby receivers will be mandated to record waste details on a portal. Each record will be assigned a unique tracking ID, allowing the full journey of the waste to be tracked.
Timeline for reporting
You must report every receipt of waste. You have 2 working days from the day after receiving the waste to submit your report. For example, if you receive the waste at 9am on Monday, you must submit your receipt by 11:59pm on Wednesday
Will my Fred system be compliant with the new legislation?
We’ve been working hard behind the scenes with DEFRA, ensuring that your Fred software will be fully ready for the new legislation. Once implemented, all received waste movements will be automatically submitted to the Digital Waste Tracking Service, via a direct data feed from the Fred System. This will be achieved by:
- Upgrading your Fred system
- Installing a plugin, to allow the Fred system to securely communicate with the government portal
Fred will then either submit records to the portal automatically as waste is received, or will add them to a list to be submitted manually as part of a batch.
How can I prepare for DWT?
Important: You must have a DEFRA account and Government Gateway/GOV.UK One Login account to be able to use the DWT feature in Fred.
You can read the full government guidance here.
While you're waiting for us to contact you to discuss the steps needed to upgrade your Fred system, you should familiarise yourself with the upcoming changes and what they'll mean for your business by visiting the official government website.
Waste receivers are now able to register online ahead of the changes and we'd encourage you to do this as soon as possible. The first time you use the service, you’ll be asked to create a DEFRA account. You'll need your organisation's Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account details to do this. If your organisation doesn't have a Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account, you must create one. You must have a DEFRA account and Government Gateway/GOV.UK One Login account to be able to use the DWT feature in Fred.
Once you've created a DEFRA account for your organisation, you’ll use your organisation’s Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account each time you log into the service. If you operate more than one organisation that receives waste (for example a subsidiary business or partnership), you'll need to register each organisation separately before adding them to your DEFRA account.
Receiving your API code
An API allows different software systems to connect to each other so they can securely exchange data. Once you have registered your organisation, you will be given a unique API code. You'll need this code when setting up DWT in your Fred system, so it's important that you get this prior to October 2026.
You can use the same API code to send waste movements for every site your organisation operates. If you have more than one organisation on your DEFRA account, you will receive a unique API code for each one.
To get signed up and to find out more information, please click here.
Content on this page was accurate when published and may be subject to change.