Opened the debate
Today I am pleased to update the House of continued progress with the implementation of Digital Waste Tracking. On 1 October 2026 the Report Receipt of Waste Service became mandatory in England and Wales (it will become mandatory in Scotland and Northern Ireland on 1 January 2027). Approximately 12,000 sites are expected to be within the scope of this first phase. The Prime Minister has been clear this government will not stand by and allow our communities to be blighted by waste crime. But the waste systems we have inherited have been exploited by criminals and are not fit for purpose. Digital Waste Tracking has been developed to address these challenges by improving the quality, timeliness and accessibility of waste data across the United Kingdom. The service will replace paper-based recording of waste movements with digital records, providing a more transparent and efficient system for businesses, regulators and government. The Report Receipt of Waste Service is now live and mandatory for permitted waste receiving sites to use. It enables operators of in-scope waste receiving sites to submit information digitally. Records must be submitted within two working days, beginning the day after waste is received. This will provide more timely data, helping regulators identify suspicious patterns earlier and take prompt, targeted enforcement action where criminal activity is suspected. The service delivers significant benefits for government, regulators, businesses and the public. Digital Waste Tracking will reduce reliance on paper records and support more efficient reporting processes as it directly integrates with commercially available software that businesses can use. Over time, it will provide greater consistency in the way waste information is captured and shared, helping businesses meet their regulatory obligations through modern digital systems and deliver a safe, effective service for the British people. This is the first stage of a wider transformation programme, and we will build on it. Digital Waste Tracking will be expanded in future phases to cover more of the waste movement chain, including waste carriers, brokers, dealers and other operators. We will continue working with regulators, businesses, software providers and the devolved governments to prepare the sector for those changes, support compliance and make sure the service is introduced in a stable, practical and user-focused way. This Government is committed to cracking down on waste crime, supporting compliant waste businesses and protecting our environment.