Digital Waste Tracking: business regulatory impact assessment

1. Title of proposal: Introduction of a UK-wide digital waste tracking system

1. This is the final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) assessing the impact on Scotland of proposals to implement a UK-wide mandatory digital waste tracking (DWT) system. This follows on from the partial BRIA published alongside the joint public consultation from all UK nations in January 2021.

2. DWT will cover Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has been developed as a joint effort between the four nations. Separate, aligned regulations will be introduced in each nation. In Scotland, regulations will be made based on powers contained in sections 34CA and 34CB of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

3. The analysis from the previous impact assessments, consultation, and corresponding Defra impact assessment published in June 2021 has been updated to reflect the final digital waste tracking service.

4. Much of the information included in this document is closely aligned with the final Impact Assessment prepared by Defra, which was undertaken on a UK-wide basis.

5. The Digital Waste Tracking system is being delivered on a phased basis in all four nations. The Digital Waste Tracking (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (“the 2026 Regulations”) introduce the first phase, and will apply to waste received at permitted facilities carrying out a waste activity. The first phase will commence in January 2027 in Scotland (the equivalent phase one regulations will commence in October 2026 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)^[1]. This BRIA covers full implementation of the Digital Waste Tracking system across all of the UK, with later phases to be introduced through future Regulations.