waste movement control is a growing requirement to combat illegal waste operators, and the rise in illicit exports of waste materials.
The idea of Digital Waste Tracking has been around for some time, and at the TRA Briefing day in 2024, it was suggested that it would be in place by April 2026.
Like many government initiatives, things have taken longer than anticipated and Defra has advised Tyre and Rubber Recycling that the process of inaugurating Digital Waste Management will begin in October 2026.
A Defra spokesperson told Tyre and Rubber Recycling that Digital Waste tracking was being phased in from October.
“The digital waste tracking system is designed to capture all actors in the waste management chain, including waste carriers. The mandatory rollout is being introduced in phases following extensive engagement with industry, to give users the necessary time to prepare and ensure an effective and user-friendly service.
“Phase 1, coming into effect from October 2026, covers permitted waste receivers. From 2027, the system will expand to capture the movement of waste from the point of production to the receiving site, meaning waste carriers and details of the waste producers such as tyre fitters will be brought into the requirements.”
A waste receiving site is defined on the Defra website as: Those required to hold a permit or licence to receive waste will be mandated to record details of waste received on the digital waste tracking service from October 2026.
Defra recognises that waste can also be received under other types of authorisations, such as registered exemptions. But the numbers of operators of these are much larger and more diverse in terms of scale and types of operation.
This latter point brings the whole issue for the tyre recycling sector back to the question of the T8 sites. From October, the tyre collector will have to comply with Digital Waste tracking but if he delivers to a T8 site, the trail will go cold. The only positive is that, if the system is correctly configured, it will give a figure to the number of tyres being delivered to T8 sites. That could prove or disprove the allegations of the T8 criteria being exceeded by questionable operators.
Digital Waste tracking could, potentially, negate the need to remove the T8 exemptions by giving a clear picture of their throughput. It could be that Digital Waste tracking could do the job that Tessa Munt’s Private Members Bill aims to do before the end of the current parliament
