Waste Tracking Technical Glossary

An Annex VII form is the required documentation for 'Green List' waste shipments moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

API-First Integration allows third-party software, like Wasters.io, to connect directly to Defra’s Waste Data Service to automate data submission. This removes the need for manual data entry into government web portals.

Digital Chain-of-Custody is the immutable electronic audit trail of every person or business that has handled a specific load of waste. It is formed by the digital links between the producer, carrier, and receiver.

Consignor and Consignee are the technical terms for the sender and the receiver of waste, respectively. These roles are being harmonized in the DWT system to provide consistency across hazardous and non-hazardous waste tracking.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is the environmental regulator for Northern Ireland.

Delegated Access is a system feature that allows a waste producer to grant permission to a third party, such as a broker or carrier, to manage their digital waste records on their behalf.

A Digitally Excluded Person is an individual or business owner who is legally exempt from using the digital service due to age, disability, or lack of internet infrastructure. Specific alternative reporting methods are provided for this group.

The Duty of Care is a legal requirement for anyone who produces, carries, keeps, disposes of, or treats waste to ensure that the waste is managed safely and legally.

The Environment Agency (EA) is the primary environmental regulator for England, responsible for enforcing waste tracking and environmental permitting.

The European Waste Catalogue (EWC) is a six-digit code used to classify waste and determine its destination in the UK and EU. Correct EWC classification is a legal requirement under the Duty of Care.

Green List Waste refers to non-hazardous waste intended for recovery that is moved across international borders. Digital Waste Tracking will digitize the Annex VII forms currently used for these movements.

Incidental Waste refers to small amounts of waste produced as a secondary part of a service (e.g., a plumber replacing a pipe). The DWT system includes specific simplified rules for how this waste is first moved to a collection point.

Mandatory Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is the UK’s statutory move from paper-based waste records to a centralized digital system under the Environment Act 2021. It replaces traditional Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs) and Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes (HWCNs).

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the regulator for waste and environmental protection in Wales.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate. Waste containing POPs (like dec-BDE in sofas) must be destroyed via incineration.

Public Beta is the final testing phase of the Digital Waste Tracking service before it becomes a legal requirement. It allows businesses to use the live system voluntarily to refine their processes and software integrations.

Real-Time Traceability is the ability for regulators to view the status of waste movements as they happen. This digital visibility replaces the "lag" associated with paper records that were often only reviewed months after a movement.

Record-Before-Move is a core regulatory principle requiring a digital waste record to be created on the national service before waste physically leaves a site. This ensures that every shipment on the road is already accounted for in the digital system.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is Scotland's principal environmental regulator.

The DWT Service Charge is a mandatory annual fee required for any organization that uses the Digital Waste Tracking service. This fee contributes to the maintenance and enforcement of the national system.

The Spreadsheet Alternative is a transitional reporting route for smaller operators who do not have integrated software. It allows users to upload waste records via a standardized .CSV or Excel template.

A Unique Movement Reference (UMR) is a digital 'passport' for waste shipments in the UK. It must be generated before waste leaves a producer's site and closed by the receiver within 48 hours.

A Variable Monetary Penalty (VMP) is a flexible fine that regulators can impose for breaches of waste tracking regulations. The amount is determined based on the severity of the offense and the financial turnover of the business.

The Waste Data Service is the official digital platform managed by Defra where all UK waste movements must be recorded and tracked. It serves as the primary interface for producers, carriers, and receivers to fulfill their legal tracking obligations.

The Waste Hierarchy Option is a mandatory selection on every digital waste record where the user must state how the waste is being handled (e.g., Recycling, Recovery, or Disposal).

Waste Receiving Sites are the first group of operators mandated to use the Digital Waste Tracking service, beginning in October 2026. This includes any facility permitted to accept, treat, or dispose of waste.