From this autumn, sites receiving waste in the UK must report data straight into Defra's new Digital Waste Tracking service.
Defra has confirmed First Mile as an approved developer for Digital Waste Tracking. Our software, Miley, connects weighbridge data directly to Defra's Digital Waste Tracking service, weighing and uploading data to produce live, accurate waste records.
How Miley works
When a load is weighed on the weighbridge at our materials sorting facility, Miley picks it up instantaneously. The system checks for any discrepancies, for example a missing weight, a mismatched EWC code, and flags it before it goes any further. Data is then sent to Defra's DWT service on a set schedule each day. Once Defra confirms a movement, that confirmation is logged in our own systems too, ensuring a digital record of all waste collected.
Miley runs on an open API, so it isn't tied to one weighbridge or one piece of software. It works with most weighbridges already in use and is agnostic to CRM or reporting system.
"We became a Defra-approved developer as the only waste processor on the list, while the other approved developers are software companies or weighbridge operators. That means we've built our software suite using our own experience as a waste operator, tailored to businesses like ours, and built to scale. It lets us set up multiple sites with multiple weighbridges and operators, all with a full audit trail. Over the coming year, we'll keep following Defra's requirements and improving our capabilities to meet all the upcoming deadlines."
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First Mile’s Mateusz Kozinski, lead developer of Miley. |
What is Digital Waste Tracking?
Paper records are slow, easy to lose, and hard to verify after the fact. That's made it easier for bad actors to move waste through the system undetected. Digital Waste Tracking will introduce one digital record of waste movements that the government can access directly.
Waste receiving sites must comply from 1st October 2026 as part of phase 1 of Digital Waste Tracking. Waste carriers will be included in phase two from the following October 2027. Waste producers, including First Mile customers, are yet to be included in the legislation, but their duty of care responsibilities remain unchanged.
What this means for our customers
Digital Waste Tracking legislation is focused on waste receivers and carriers, rather than producers, to crack down on waste crime and mismanaged waste disposal. For First Mile customers and other businesses producing waste in their workplaces, this means there is no direct impact from Digital Waste Tracking.
However, our customers can be assured that they are working with a trusted, fully compliant waste provider that stays ahead of the curve on changing legislation.
It's important to remember that your duty of care requirements as a business remain unchanged. This means choosing a fully compliant waste provider, disposing of waste responsibly, and being able to show proof of this.
All First Mile customers can access digital copies of their waste transfer notes and other compliance documents in the customer portal, e-sign documents online, and download PDFs to show a digital record of their waste disposal.
