How to get your DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking code

Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is the service that replaces paper waste transfer and consignment notes. Before a receiving site can accept loads through it, that site needs its own API code from DEFRA. It's a one-off bit of setup, and it trips people up because the code isn't something you make up — DEFRA issues it once your site is registered and approved.

Here's the whole process, start to finish, and where the code lands in LoadSnap once you have it.

What the code is (and isn't)

The DWT API code is a unique identifier — a UUID, something like b74cbf3c-e9e2-43f3-bd6b-009d37a8d677 — that ties a specific permitted site to DEFRA's tracking service. It is issued per site, not per company: if you operate three receiving sites, you'll have three codes. It is not your waste carrier registration number, your permit number, or your Companies House number.

Step by step

1. 01Make sure each site already holds the right environmental permit or exemption. DWT registration sits on top of your permit — it doesn't replace it.
2. 02Register your organisation on DEFRA's Digital Waste Tracking service. You'll set up an account and confirm your business details.
3. 03Add each receiving site to your DWT account, matching it to its permit. DEFRA validates the site against the permit register.
4. 04Once a site is approved, DEFRA issues that site its API code. This is the value you'll paste into LoadSnap.
5. 05Repeat for every permitted site you operate.

Common hold-ups

• Permit not matched: if DEFRA can't match the site to a live permit, approval stalls. Check the permit number is exactly as it appears on the register.
• Using the wrong identifier: the code is a UUID. If what you've been given is a short reference or a permit number, it isn't the API code — go back to the site's DWT record.
• One code, many sites: don't reuse a single code across sites. Each site's submissions must carry its own code or they'll be rejected.

Once it's connected

With a verified code in place, every receipt you log against that site can be submitted to DEFRA digitally — no paper, no re-keying. LoadSnap shows the live connection status next to each site, so you always know which sites are ready and which still need their code.

If you'd rather not set this up yourself, our team can walk you through registration and test each site's connection with you.

LoadSnap team

UK waste compliance

Written by the team building LoadSnap, the UK waste compliance platform for carriers and receivers.