Digital waste tracking for waste sites in Northern Ireland
Listed on GOV.UK as a compatible software providerNorthern Ireland joins the Digital Waste Tracking Service in January 2027. From then, permitted and licensed waste receiving sites record every incoming load and submit it to DEFRA within two working days, with DAERA enforcing the rules in Northern Ireland. Originally expected in October 2026, the start moved to January 2027 as part of the confirmed phased rollout, which gives sites here the same three month lead Scotland has.
Setting up early is the advantage of that timing. Sites that build the habit now reach January with the routine bedded in, rather than learning it under a deadline.
The January 2027 date, and what it asks of your site
The mechanics are identical to the rest of the UK. Each load arriving at your site becomes a record: the waste code, the description and weight, the carrier details, the arrival time, and a signature. The record goes to the service within two working days of the day after the load arrives. The service itself is the UK-wide one run by DEFRA, so the setup you do now is the same setup that carries you through January and beyond.
DAERA, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, is the regulator that enforces the duty in Northern Ireland. If you already hold a waste management licence or permit, you are the site type this applies to. The who needs DWTS guide settles any borderline cases.
Carrier checks that cover Northern Ireland
The carrier registration number is a mandatory field, and checking it against the wrong register is a common failure. LoadLog's carrier lookup covers all four UK public registers, Northern Ireland's included, so a carrier registered there is checked as the record is created, in the same step as one registered in England. A number that does not match the register is flagged while the driver is still at the gate, not discovered by a rejection later.
For sites near the border, this matters twice over: a load can arrive behind a carrier registered on either side, and both are checked in the same flow.
Getting ahead of the deadline
Three things worth doing while the deadline is still months away. Register your organisation for the service and get your API code, following our register guide. Connect the code in LoadLog and prove the whole flow in the sandbox, so the first real submission is a practised move rather than a test. Then set up the shortcuts: templates for the loads you see every day, and import for the ones your weighbridge already records. Your first submission walks the full chain.
If your site takes a handful of loads a week, the free plan is enough to build the routine now. Sites that want the question settled can move to Compliance Lite when volume makes it worthwhile.
Two months free for waste sites in Northern Ireland: take up Compliance Lite before 18 December 2026 and your first two months are free, counted from the day the plan goes live on your account.
Start free →Frequently asked questions
When does digital waste tracking start in Northern Ireland?
January 2027 for permitted and licensed waste receiving sites, three months after England and Wales.
Who enforces it in Northern Ireland?
DAERA, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The service itself is the UK-wide Digital Waste Tracking Service run by DEFRA.
Does LoadLog check Northern Ireland carrier registrations?
Yes. The carrier lookup covers all four UK public registers, including the one for Northern Ireland, so a carrier registered there is checked as the record is created.
Is there help for Northern Ireland sites ahead of the deadline?
Yes. Waste sites in Northern Ireland that take up Compliance Lite before 18 December 2026 get their first two months free, counted from the day the plan goes live on the account.
Can we start before January 2027?
Yes. The service is open across the UK, and you can prove the whole flow in the sandbox at any time, so your first mandatory load is routine rather than a first attempt.
What does LoadLog cost?
The free plan covers five notes a month. Compliance Lite is £12 a month for unlimited notes. DEFRA charges £26 per year for each organisation.
Compliance Lite is £12 a month, and waste sites in Northern Ireland get their first two months free if you take it up before 18 December 2026, counted from the day the plan goes live on your account.