Digital waste tracking for UK waste receiving sites

From 1 October 2026, waste receiving sites in England and Wales must record every load digitally and submit it to DEFRA. LoadLog does both from the gate. Scotland and Northern Ireland follow in January 2027.

Listed on GOV.UK as a compatible software provider Get Started Free

Or create a free waste transfer note, no account needed.

The LoadLog new waste transfer note form, with EWC code, waste description, weight and container fields

Why digital waste tracking matters

Paper Waste Transfer Notes have been the backbone of UK waste compliance since the 1990s. That has now changed. Under Section 58 of the Environment Act 2021, DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking Service (DWTS) has replaced the paper WTN with a single digital record for every waste movement in the country.

For permitted waste receiving sites, transfer stations, recycling facilities, skip yards and landfill operators among them, this means every incoming load has to be recorded digitally within two working days of arrival. A WTN written out by hand and filed in a folder is no longer good enough.

LoadLog connects directly to the DEFRA DWTS API, so you can record a load, capture the signatures and submit the Waste Transfer Note without leaving the yard. No paper trail to lose, no spreadsheet to maintain and no enterprise software to learn.

Scotland and Northern Ireland follow in January 2027. Scotland's rules and Northern Ireland's rules set out what each regulator expects.

How it works

1

Record the load

Enter the waste description, EWC code, vehicle registration, carrier details and destination site into a simple form on any device, phone, tablet or desktop. The form mirrors DEFRA's required fields, so nothing gets missed.

2

Sign digitally

The waste producer, carrier and receiver each sign on screen. Every signature is timestamped and bound to the record, so there's no paper to print, post or lose.

3

Submit to DEFRA

One tap sends the completed Waste Transfer Note to the DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking Service through our direct API integration. You'll get a confirmation receipt and a DEFRA submission ID within seconds.

Most people are testing a load in DEFRA's sandbox within half an hour of signing up.

See the full walkthrough, step by step →

LoadLog dashboard showing this month's waste transfer note totals and recent submissions

See LoadLog in action

Watch the full demo, from configuration to submitting a WTN to DEFRA.

Built for the sites that receive waste

LoadLog is built for permitted waste receiving sites, the organisations legally required to record every incoming load digitally:

If your site holds an environmental permit and takes in waste from carriers, LoadLog gets you compliant without the cost of a full enterprise system.

Run your own vehicles as well?

The Carrier hub keeps your permit or exemption, competence, drivers and vehicles in one place, with the dates that apply to your registration worked out for you. It is free on every account, whether you run a waste site, a fleet, or both.

  • ✓ Permit or exemption, with your conversion and apply-by dates
  • ✓ Driver numbers, vehicle records and competence in one register
  • ✓ Inspection pack as one PDF, ready for an officer or auditor
See the Carrier hub → Compare carrier software

Everything you need for waste compliance

Built specifically for UK waste receiving sites, not bolted on from a generic ERP.

Compare LoadLog with other DWTS software, or browse by sector.

Works on any device

LoadLog runs in the browser on your phone, tablet or desktop. No app to install and nothing to download, just sign in and record a load.

Signatures and PDF records

Capture signatures from the producer, carrier and receiver on screen. Every submitted WTN generates a PDF you can download, print or email, ready for your own files or an Environment Agency inspection.

Automatic DEFRA submission

Completed WTNs go to the DWTS automatically, with automatic retry if the connection drops, a full audit trail and a confirmation receipt for every submission.

Carrier verification

Every carrier registration number is checked automatically against all four UK public registers, so you know who's collecting or delivering waste before they arrive on site.

Full audit trail

Every field, every edit and every submission is logged with a timestamp, giving you complete traceability for compliance reporting.

Role-based access

Set up Admin, Operator and Viewer accounts for your team, so the right people can create and submit WTNs while everyone else can see what's needed without the risk of accidental changes.

Sandbox and production modes

Test your full workflow against DEFRA's sandbox environment before you go live, then switch to production with the same account once you're ready.

Reusable templates

Save a template for the loads you handle every day, or copy a ready-made one from the sample library. Repeat loads take seconds to record, with the codes, descriptions and carrier details already filled in.

Import your existing records

Already keep your loads in a spreadsheet or a weighbridge system? Import the rows as a CSV or paste them in. LoadLog matches your columns, remembers the mapping for next time, and shows a dry run before anything is saved, so a day's tickets arrive as drafts ready to review and submit.

The LoadLog dashboard on a mobile phone, with stacked activity cards and a recent waste transfer note list

Free tools

EWC code lookup

Search the full European Waste Catalogue in seconds.

Open the free lookup →

Waste transfer note generator

Fill in a load and print a paper note, no account needed.

Open the WTN generator →

Simple, transparent pricing

Start free and upgrade as you grow. No hidden fees, no long contracts, payment by GoCardless Direct Debit.

Free

£0/mo

  • ✓ 1 admin user
  • ✓ 5 WTNs per month
  • ✓ Digital signatures
  • ✓ DEFRA submission
  • ✓ Carrier checks (all four UK registers)
  • ✓ 4 WTN templates
  • ✓ Weekly activity digest email
Get Started Free
Most Popular

Compliance Lite

£12/mo

  • ✓ 1 admin + 2 operators
  • ✓ Unlimited WTNs
  • ✓ Carrier checks (all four UK registers)
  • ✓ PDF export
  • ✓ Email PDF
  • ✓ 10 WTN templates
  • ✓ Use sample templates
  • ✓ CSV import (1,000 rows a month)
  • ✓ Activity digest email (daily, weekly or monthly)
Get Started

Compliance Plus

£49/mo

  • ✓ 3 admins + 10 operators
  • ✓ Unlimited WTNs
  • ✓ Multi-site support (up to 5 sites)
  • ✓ 50 WTN templates
  • ✓ Use sample templates
  • ✓ Email support
  • ✓ CSV import (5,000 rows a month)
  • ✓ Activity digest email (daily, weekly or monthly)
Get Started

Moving waste yourself? Carrier Essentials is free, with paid carrier plans coming in 2027.

View full pricing details →

Built on UK-hosted, secure infrastructure

Your waste compliance data stays in the UK. LoadLog is hosted on Ionos and Supabase infrastructure in UK data centres, encrypted in transit and at rest, with a complete audit trail of every action taken on your account. RDC IT Solutions Ltd is ICO registered and built to be fully GDPR compliant from the ground up.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Digital Waste Tracking Service?
The DWTS is DEFRA's replacement for the paper Waste Transfer Note. Under Section 58 of the Environment Act 2021, every waste movement in the UK is recorded on a single digital system instead of on paper kept on site. It's run by DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and connects directly to the Environment Agency's enforcement systems.
When does this become mandatory?
Permitted waste receiving sites in England and Wales have had to comply since 1 October 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland follow from January 2027. Waste carriers, brokers and dealers join the scheme from October 2027, and carrier accounts are open now for the hub that keeps their records ready.
Does LoadLog work for waste carriers?
Yes. Carrier accounts are open now and the Carrier hub is free: permit or exemption, drivers, vehicles, competence and documents in one place, with the dates that apply to your registration. Paid carrier plans arrive in 2027, ahead of the planned October 2027 duty for carriers, brokers and dealers.
Do I need a DEFRA API code?
Yes. You'll register with DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking Service to get your credentials, and LoadLog uses these to submit your WTNs automatically. If you haven't registered yet, we'll guide you through it during setup. DEFRA also charges its own annual service fee of £26 per organisation for access to the platform, separate from your LoadLog subscription.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Operating without a compliant digital record after your mandatory date can lead to a fixed penalty of £1,000 per breach, rising by 50% if it isn't paid on time. On top of that, the Environment Agency can issue a variable penalty with no upper limit for serious or repeated breaches. In the most serious cases you could face criminal prosecution, and your environmental permit can be suspended or revoked.
Can I try LoadLog before committing?
Yes. The Free plan gives you 5 WTNs a month with no credit card required, so you can test the whole workflow, from recording a load to submitting it to DEFRA's sandbox environment, before paying for anything.
Are there any setup fees or hidden costs?
No setup fees and no per-user charges. Everything listed in a plan is included in its price, the Free plan needs no credit card, and monthly plans have no minimum term. Annual billing is pre-paid for the full year. The only extra cost is DEFRA's own annual service fee of £26 per legal entity, which goes directly to DEFRA, not to us.
Is my data secure?
Yes. All data is hosted in the UK, encrypted in transit and at rest, and backed by a complete audit trail of every action on your account. RDC IT Solutions Ltd is ICO registered and built to GDPR standards.

Ready to get started?

Set up your account in minutes and record your first load today.

Get Started Free