Regulations · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Digital waste tracking 2026: what it means for dental practices
What digital waste tracking is
Digital waste tracking is a UK-wide service that will eventually record every movement of waste from the producer to final treatment. It is designed to replace a patchwork of paper notes and returns with a single digital record, making it harder for waste criminals to misdescribe or dump waste, and giving regulators a clearer picture of where waste goes. The service covers all controlled waste, not just hazardous waste, so offensive, clinical and general waste from a practice will all eventually be tracked in the same way.
For healthcare waste, which includes several hazardous streams, the government and regulators see digital tracking as a way to spot problems such as waste being stored for too long at transfer sites or sent to facilities without the right permits. Over time, that should make it easier for producers to see that their waste has been handled properly, rather than relying on a paper note that only shows the first step.
The timeline so far
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 | Permitted and licensed receiving sites in England and Wales must record waste they receive |
| January 2027 | Receiving sites in Scotland and Northern Ireland join |
| Spring 2027 | Public testing planned for carriers, brokers and dealers |
| October 2027 | Mandatory use planned for carriers, brokers and dealers |
Producers such as dental practices are not required to use the service in these first phases. Dates for later phases can change, so check government guidance or ask your contractor for updates.
What has not changed for practices
- Waste transfer notes are still needed for non-hazardous waste such as offensive waste
- Hazardous waste consignment notes are still needed for streams such as amalgam, many clinical streams and X-ray chemicals in England and Wales
- Records must still be kept for at least two years for transfer notes and three years for consignment notes
- Your Duty of Care to describe waste correctly and use registered carriers is unchanged
- Scotland's special waste and Northern Ireland's hazardous waste rules continue as before
In short, the paper or electronic notes you already receive from your contractor are still your legal record for now.
What it means behind the scenes
Your waste goes to transfer stations and treatment sites, and those sites now record each load digitally, including waste codes and, for hazardous waste, its hazardous properties. If the description on your paperwork does not match what arrives, that mismatch is more visible than before. Accurate descriptions and correct List of Wastes codes on your notes matter more, not less.
How to prepare now
- Check that every stream on your paperwork has the right description and waste code
- Make sure your practice name, address and SIC code are correct on notes
- Ask your contractor how they are preparing for carrier requirements in 2027
- Find out whether your contractor will give you access to digital records
- Keep your current filing system for transfer and consignment notes
- Note who in the practice is responsible for waste records
Practices with several sites or a group structure should also check that each site is recorded correctly, as producer details on paperwork need to match the premises where waste was produced. If you have recently moved, merged or changed ownership, make sure the contractor has updated your details, as old addresses or business names on notes are a common error that will be easier to spot once data is digital.
Will practices have to use it in future?
The government's long-term aim is for all those handling waste, including producers, to be part of the system, and paper notes are expected to be phased out eventually. No date has been set for producers like dental practices, and transition plans are still to be developed. In the meantime, keep doing what the current rules require and expect your contractor to handle most of the digital side when the time comes.
Questions to ask your contractor
- Are the sites you send our waste to recording it in the digital system?
- Will our consignment notes change in format?
- Can we see digital records for our waste?
- How will you meet the carrier requirements due in 2027?
- Will any changes affect what we pay?
Frequently asked questions
Do dental practices need to register for digital waste tracking?
Not at present. The first phase, from 1 October 2026, applies to permitted and licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland following in January 2027 and carriers from October 2027. Producers such as dental practices are not yet required to use it, though the government intends to bring producers in eventually. Your contractor should tell you if anything changes for you.
Does digital waste tracking replace consignment notes?
Not yet. Practices must continue to receive and keep waste transfer notes and hazardous waste consignment notes in the usual way. Transfer notes should be kept for at least two years and consignment notes for at least three years in England and Wales. Plans to move away from paper systems will be set out later, and no date has yet been given for producers such as dental practices.
What should a dental practice do to prepare for digital waste tracking?
Check that waste descriptions and List of Wastes codes on your paperwork are accurate, that your practice details are correct, and that your contractor is preparing for the carrier phase due in October 2027. Keep filing your current notes. Because receiving sites now record loads digitally, mismatched descriptions are more likely to be spotted.
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