Norfolk waste operator PSH Environmental has welcomed a major new system designed to track where waste ends up but warned it will not stop fly-tipping without effective enforcement.
Digital Waste Tracking became mandatory for licensed and permitted waste-receiving sites in England and Wales on 1 October in the first phase of a wider Government overhaul of how waste movements are recorded.
Thousands of waste sites must now digitally report every load of controlled waste they receive including where it came from, who transported it, what type of waste it is and how it will be recovered or disposed of. Records must generally be submitted within two working days.
The Government says the changes will tackle gaps in existing waste records and help regulators identify suspicious activity. The data can also be used during roadside checks to verify if waste is being taken to a legitimate site and to identify sites receiving waste outside the conditions of their permits.
Daniel Parker, director at Rackheath-based PSH Environmental, said greater transparency was a positive step but questioned if those already operating illegally would engage with the new system.
He said: “Anything that improves visibility in the waste chain is welcome. The more we know about where waste has come from, who has handled it and where it ends up, the better that should be for legitimate businesses, their customers and the regulators trying to tackle waste crime.
“But for me it’s a double-edged sword. The companies already doing things properly will comply with the new requirements, as they do with the regulations already in place. My concern is with the people who are already operating outside the rules. If they’re handling or dumping waste illegally now, the introduction of a new digital system doesn’t suddenly mean they’re going to start reporting what they’re doing.
“That’s why I don’t think we should see Digital Waste Tracking as a silver bullet. It gives regulators another tool and potentially much better information, which is a positive step, but the information is only useful if something is done with it.
“If the data helps identify unusual waste movements, operators who aren’t following the rules or places where the numbers don’t add up, that needs to lead to checks and action. Technology can improve traceability, but it still needs effective enforcement behind it.”
PSH Environmental highlighted the scale of the enforcement challenge in Norfolk last month after analysing official Defra figures.
The company found 17,885 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in Norfolk during 2024-25. Over the same period, 59 fixed penalty notices were issued and four prosecutions were brought – equivalent to one formal penalty for approximately every 284 recorded incidents.
Daniel said: “Legitimate waste companies invest a lot of time and money in doing things properly and meeting the regulations.
“The frustration is that someone operating illegally isn’t necessarily carrying those same costs and can undercut businesses that are following the rules. We need the information this system produces to help regulators find those people and take action.”
Waste crime and poorly performing waste sites are estimated to cost the UK economy around £1 billion a year.
The launch is the first stage of Digital Waste Tracking. It currently focuses on permitted and licensed sites receiving waste in England and Wales, with waste carriers, brokers and dealers due to enter the mandatory system in a later phase.
Businesses themselves are not required to report their waste through the new service during this first phase but their existing duty of care remains. Existing documentation including waste transfer notes also continues alongside the digital system for now.
Daniel added: “For businesses, the message hasn’t changed. Know who is taking your waste, check they’re legitimate and keep the right paperwork.”
For advice on responsible waste management and meeting your business’s waste duty of care requirements, contact PSH Environmental to find out how the team can help.
