Choosing the right software for Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is one of the most important compliance decisions waste businesses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will make before the October 2026 deadline. But not all software that claims to support DWT has actually been approved by Defra to connect to the live system.
This post explains what Defra approval actually means, how to check whether a software provider is on the official GOV.UK list, and why it matters for your compliance obligations.
What is Digital Waste Tracking software?
Digital Waste Tracking is the UK government's mandatory system for reporting waste movements digitally to Defra and the Environment Agency. From 1 October 2026 (1 January 2027 in Scotland), every permitted and licensed waste-receiving site must report waste receipts to Defra on the day they occur.
There are two ways to do this:
- Manually — using Defra's own spreadsheet template, uploaded through GOV.UK
- Via approved software — using a third-party platform with a live API connection to Defra's Report Receipt of Waste service
For most businesses handling significant volumes of waste, manual spreadsheet uploads quickly become impractical. That's where approved DWT software comes in — it connects directly to Defra's system and submits waste receipt data automatically, without re-entry.
What does "Defra-approved" actually mean?
Before any software provider can offer a live API connection to the Report Receipt of Waste service, Defra requires them to pass Production Approval Tests (PAT) — a structured series of technical scenarios that test how the software submits, validates, and corrects waste receipt data through the API.
PAT is not a rubber stamp. Providers must demonstrate their integration works correctly across a range of defined scenarios, including:
- Submitting waste receipt records with correct EWC codes and quantities
- Handling validation errors and resubmitting corrected records
- Managing partial receipts and amendments
- Correctly identifying the receiving site by permit or licence reference
Only providers who pass PAT are permitted to offer a live connection to Defra's production environment. Providers who fail or haven't yet attempted PAT cannot legally connect your site to the live DWT system — regardless of what their marketing says.
It's also worth noting what Defra approval does not mean. Defra's own guidance is clear that buying or using third-party software is at the customer's own risk. PAT approval is a technical certification of the API integration — it's not an endorsement of the software as a product, and Defra takes no responsibility for commercial decisions made by customers choosing a provider.
How to check if a DWT software provider is Defra-approved
Defra maintains a public list of approved software providers on GOV.UK:
Report receipt of waste — choose a software provider
This is the definitive source. If a provider is not on this list, they have not passed PAT and cannot connect your site to the live DWT system. The list is updated periodically by Defra as new providers complete the approval process.
WasteBolt is listed on this page as a Defra-approved Digital Waste Tracking software provider, having passed PAT on 11 June 2026.
Why does Defra approval matter for your compliance?
If you connect your site to a DWT software provider that has not passed PAT, you are not actually connected to Defra's live system — you're connected to nothing, or at best a test environment. That means:
- Your waste receipts are not being reported to Defra — even if the software tells you they are
- You are not meeting your legal obligation under the Digital Waste Tracking regulations from October 2026
- You could face enforcement action from the Environment Agency for non-compliance — even if you believed in good faith that your software was handling it
This is not a hypothetical risk. The GOV.UK list exists precisely because Defra wants waste businesses to be able to verify that the software they're using is genuinely connected to the live system.
What to look for in DWT software beyond Defra approval
PAT approval is the baseline — it confirms the technical connection works. But it's not the only thing to consider when choosing DWT software for your business. The right platform should also:
Handle your existing workflow. If you're already using a weighbridge, the best DWT software connects to your weighbridge data directly — either via CSV import or a live integration — rather than requiring you to re-enter every movement manually. WasteBolt's weighbridge bridging and Sync Agent features are built specifically for this.
Support waste transfer notes alongside DWT. DWT covers the reporting obligation to Defra, but waste transfer notes (WTNs) remain a separate legal requirement between parties. Software that handles both — WTNs, season tickets, hazardous consignment notes, and DWT submissions — in one place is significantly more efficient than running separate systems. See how WasteBolt handles digital waste transfer notes.
Be ready before October 2026. With the deadline approaching, some providers are still in development or awaiting PAT approval. Choosing a provider that is already approved and live means you can set up, test, and be confident your connection is working well before the mandate kicks in — rather than scrambling in September.
Offer a self-serve setup. Your Defra API credentials should be something you can enter yourself, not something that requires a lengthy onboarding process. In WasteBolt, entering your DWT credentials takes minutes via Settings → Integrations.
How WasteBolt connects your site to Digital Waste Tracking
WasteBolt is a Defra-approved DWT software provider with a live production API connection to the Report Receipt of Waste service. Here's how to get connected:
- Register your site at gov.uk/guidance/report-receipt-of-waste if you haven't already
- Obtain your Defra API credentials (Client ID and Client Secret) from the DWT portal
- Enter your credentials in WasteBolt at Settings → Integrations
- Test the connection — WasteBolt confirms your credentials are valid and your site is active on Defra's system
- Start submitting — waste receipts recorded in WasteBolt flow to Defra automatically
The full setup process is covered in our step-by-step DWT credentials guide.
Not sure if your site is ready for October 2026? Take our free DWT Readiness Check to find out where you stand in under two minutes.
Summary
- Digital Waste Tracking is mandatory from 1 October 2026 for permitted and licensed waste-receiving sites
- Not all DWT software is Defra-approved — only providers who have passed PAT can connect to the live system
- Check the GOV.UK approved provider list before choosing software
- WasteBolt is on that list, having passed PAT on 11 June 2026
- Setup is self-serve and takes minutes — get started today