Digital Waste Tracking is designed to improve how waste movements are recorded across the UK, but its potential benefits go far beyond regulatory compliance. Could better waste data also help tackle illegal waste activity and support a more circular economy?
This was a key topic discussed at the Digital Waste Tracking Conference on 20 October 2026, where government and industry representatives explored how improved information could help regulators identify suspicious activity and strengthen enforcement.
The challenge of waste crime
Waste crime remains a significant challenge for the UK waste industry.
Illegal dumping, fly-tipping, unauthorised waste movements and illegal waste sites can cause environmental damage, create risks to public health and place legitimate waste businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
One of the challenges facing regulators is the difficulty of tracking waste throughout its journey.
When information is incomplete, inconsistent or unavailable, identifying where waste has originated, where it has travelled and whether it has been managed legally becomes more difficult.
Digital Waste Tracking aims to improve this visibility.
How could DWT help?
By creating a more consistent digital record of waste movements, DWT has the potential to provide regulators with better information about waste travelling through the supply chain.
Some of the potential benefits discussed at the conference included:
Greater visibility of waste movements
Digital records could make it easier to identify where waste originates, which organisations handle it and where it is ultimately received.
Identifying suspicious activity
Improved data could help regulators recognise unusual patterns, inconsistencies or gaps in waste movements that may require further investigation.
More targeted enforcement
Access to better information could help enforcement teams focus their resources on activities and locations presenting the greatest risks.
Connecting information across government
Speakers discussed opportunities to link waste movement information with other sources, including vehicle and tax records, alongside roadside checks.
This could help identify businesses operating outside legitimate waste management systems.
Will DWT eliminate waste crime?
While the potential benefits are significant, conference speakers were clear that Digital Waste Tracking alone will not eliminate waste crime.
Technology and improved reporting are only part of the solution.
Effective enforcement, regulatory collaboration and changes in behaviour will remain essential.
Businesses operating illegally may also attempt to avoid participating in the system altogether.
The challenge will therefore be using DWT alongside other enforcement measures to make illegal activity more difficult to conceal and less financially attractive.
Better waste data could support the circular economy
Another important discussion at the conference was the wider value of collecting more accurate waste information.
Currently, businesses do not always have sufficient visibility of the materials moving through the waste system.
Improved information about waste types, quantities and destinations could help identify opportunities for:
- Reuse and recycling
- More efficient resource management
- Reducing unnecessary waste movements
- Identifying valuable materials
- Developing new recycling services and commercial opportunities
Rather than viewing Digital Waste Tracking solely as a compliance requirement, the industry could benefit from recognising its potential to improve resource efficiency.
The role of emerging technology
The Environment Agency is also exploring how to make better use of the information it receives.
During the conference, speakers discussed a range of approaches, including geographic information systems (GIS), satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and collaboration with academic institutions and other organisations.
These technologies could support the identification of fly-tipping, suspicious waste activity and emerging environmental risks.
However, the effectiveness of these approaches will depend heavily on the quality and availability of the underlying data.
A more transparent waste industry
The longer-term ambition is to create a waste management system in which legitimate activity is easier to monitor and valuable resources are more effectively recovered.
Digital Waste Tracking could play an important role in achieving this.
However, its success will depend on widespread participation, reliable information and the ability of regulators to turn data into meaningful action.
The key message from the conference was that better data creates opportunities, but it must be supported by effective enforcement and industry collaboration to deliver real change.
Supporting compliance with Digital Waste Tracking
Albion Environmental supports waste businesses in understanding their environmental responsibilities and adapting to regulatory changes.
Our Digital Waste Tracking training and guidance can help organisations understand the requirements and prepare for implementation.
Get in touch at info@albion-environmental.co.uk to find out how we can help.
Coming next: Is the Waste Industry Ready for Digital Waste Tracking? We examine the practical challenges businesses face and the steps they can take to prepare.