DEFRA digital waste tracking
Automate ’s DEFRA digital waste tracking submissions.
Paper waste notes end on 1 October 2026 - from that date every waste receiver in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must log movements on DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking Service, with Scotland following in January 2027 and carriers later that year. LoadSnap gets you compliant now: snap a photo of any load, let AI classify it against 850+ EWC codes, and file the record straight to DEFRA.
mandate · 1 Oct 2026
EWC 17 09 04
Mixed construction & demolition waste
Producer
Oakfield Joinery
Carrier
CBDU284913 ✓
EWC code
17 09 04
Net weight
2.46 t
Tracking ID
WT-2K9F-7T1A
EWC 17 09 04
Mixed construction & demolition waste
Producer
Oakfield Joinery
Carrier
CBDU284913 ✓
EWC code
17 09 04
Net weight
2.46 t
Tracking ID
WT-2K9F-7T1A
How it works
One platform. Every kind of operator.
Pick who you are - then walk the real LoadSnap workflow you'd actually use, step by step.
The workflow, step by step
Vehicle arrives
Operative opens a new receipt as the vehicle hits the weighbridge
Select the carrier
From the carrier library the back office maintains. Add vehicle reg + driver name
Capture each waste item
Photo the load and AI suggests the EWC code; sealed loads log from the consignment details
Weigh it
Set container type and count, then record the weight - estimated or actual
Back office reviews
Back office confirms classification, disposal codes and compliance fields
Submit to DEFRA
In Phase 1 the receiver files the movement; a Waste Tracking ID comes back
Carriers come from the library your back office maintains. In Phase 1 the receiver files the movement to DEFRA; in Phase 2 they'll just look up the carrier's Tracking ID.
AI classification
AI that knows UK waste regulations.
We trained on 1.2 million UK waste movements. The model returns an EWC code, hazardous flag, and consignee-return-ready description - with sources.
Detects document type
Photo of waste, weighbridge ticket, or paper WTN
Flags hazardous waste
Routes HWCN automatically; surfaces SDS where required
850+ EWC codes built in
Including 19-series industrial and 17-series construction
Drag a photo, or tap to upload
A skip, bin or pile of waste works best
Built for the mandate
The clock is already running.
From October 2026, waste receivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must record every movement digitally, with Scotland following in January 2027 and carriers planned for October 2027. LoadSnap is in the DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) Beta - we'll be live on day one.
- 1
Now
Start recording today
Build your audit trail before the deadline. LoadSnap stores every WTN, photo, and signature.
- 2
Apr 2026
DEFRA DWT Beta opens
Operators on the platform get sandbox access first. We submit on your behalf during the beta.
- 3
Oct 2026
Mandatory for receivers
Every transfer station, MRF, and treatment site in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must use the digital waste tracking service. Scotland follows in January 2027.
~5 months left - 4
Oct 2027
Carriers follow (planned)
Phase 2, planned from October 2027: registered carriers submit waste movements digitally - paper WTNs no longer compliant.
Free 2-minute quiz
How ready are you for the mandate?
Twelve quick questions, two minutes. Get a readiness score across the five areas the Environment Agency looks at - and the exact gaps to close before your deadline.
- Your readiness score across all 5 compliance areas
- Your exact deadline — receiver, carrier or producer
- The specific gaps to close, and how to close them
Do your drivers capture waste details digitally at the point of collection?
Your readiness
3 priority gaps to close
LoadSnap Connect
If your receiver's on LoadSnap, the gate receipt is one scan.
When both you and your receiver are on LoadSnap, every load you book gets a unique code. The receiver scans it and the whole receipt pre-fills — carrier, EWC codes, hazardous flags, the lot. They just confirm the weight and sign. It's an interim way to speed up the carrier-to-receiver handover, ahead of DEFRA's Phase 2 API (expected Oct 2027) — not a replacement for digital waste tracking, which LoadSnap already files with DEFRA.
Every load gets a code
Minted automatically — nothing to switch on
One scan pre-fills the receipt
No re-typing the load at the gate
Two-way confirmation
The carrier sees it landed, instantly
Producer
Oakfield Joinery
Carrier
CBDU284913 ✓
EWC code
17 09 04
Net weight
2.46 t
Tracking ID
WT-2K9F-7T1A
Gross
31.20 t
Tare
12.74 t
Net
18.46 t
Carrier
M&J Skips
Producer
Oakfield Joinery
Carrier
CBDU284913 ✓
EWC code
17 09 04
Net weight
2.46 t
Tracking ID
WT-2K9F-7T1A
Gross
31.20 t
Tare
12.74 t
Net
18.46 t
Carrier
M&J Skips
Why LoadSnap
Built with waste operators, for the 2026 mandate - so the day digital tracking becomes law, you're already running on it.
We're building LoadSnap alongside the carriers and receivers who'll live with the mandate - in the DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) Beta, shipping every week, and keeping every movement audit-ready from the first collection.
On the DEFRA DWT Beta
Built to the spec, not around it
UK data residency
Your records stay in the UK
Built in Leeds
By people from this industry
0.4s
AI classification
Median latency
850+
EWC codes built in
Hazardous + non-haz
2 clicks
To DEFRA
Or fully automatic
Free
DEFRA submission
On every plan
Pricing
Starts free. Scales with you.
Same plan covers carriers and receivers. DEFRA submission is included on every plan - including free.
Free
For sole traders getting started with digital waste tracking.
Free forever
Includes:
- AI waste classification (5/mo)
- EWC code search in plain English
- 1 admin user
- 2 drivers
- Up to 5 vehicles
- Digital WTN PDF export
- Basic compliance dashboard
- History and audit log
- Push notifications
- DEFRA API submission
Trade
For tradespeople and mobile businesses who carry their own waste.
Billed monthly
Built for the 400,000+ registered carriers who aren't waste companies:
- Unlimited AI classifications
- Photo to compliant WTN in under a minute
- Plain-English waste descriptions
- Saved tips and drop-off points
- 1 admin user
- Up to 25 drivers & 25 vehicles
- Scrap metal route handling
- Monthly accountant-ready summary
- CSV export
- Mobile-first, works in the van
- DEFRA API submission
14-day free trial
Start Free TrialPro
For growing waste carriers and receiving sites.
Billed monthly
Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited AI classifications
- Driver app submissions
- Carrier licence verification (live EA register)
- DVLA vehicle lookup (auto MOT + tax)
- Digital signatures
- Driver check-in + vehicle assignment
- Fleet view (vehicle-first scheduling)
- Job scheduling + calendar + Kanban + Gantt
- Interactive map view
- Customer billing + invoicing
- Quotes + enquiry forms
- Sage / Xero / QuickBooks export
- Fuel finder
- 5 admin users
- DEFRA API submission
14-day free trial
Start Free TrialBusiness
For multi-site operators and larger fleets.
Billed monthly
Everything in Pro, plus:
- Unlimited admin users
- Unlimited drivers + vehicles
- Unlimited jobs
- Multi-site management
- Daily vehicle checks
- Environmental reports (coming soon)
- Hazardous waste consignment notes
- Producer portal
- Contracts + season tickets
- White-label inquiry forms
- Group messaging + announcements
- Priority support
- DEFRA API + auto-submission
14-day free trial
Start Free TrialEnterprise
Dedicated support, API access, and bespoke integrations for larger fleets, multi-national operators, and regulated environments.
Usually replies within 1 business day
Everything in Business, plus:
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom onboarding + SLA
- White-label branding
- SSO / SAML authentication (coming soon)
- Bulk org provisioning (coming soon)
- Full API access (coming soon)
- Custom EWC code mappings
- Priority DEFRA submission queue (coming soon)
- Extended audit log retention
- Invoice billing
14-day trial on paid plans · No credit card required · UK data residency · See full pricing & compare plans
FAQ
Common questions.
Can't find what you're after? Talk to the team - we usually answer inside the hour, UK business time.
On the DEFRA DWT Beta
The mandate is coming.
Get compliant now.
Start for free. Live in under an hour. No credit card. Build your digital audit trail today, before the deadline forces it.
DEFRA API integrated · EA carrier verification · UK data residency