Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) is the DEFRA service that records waste movements. Paperwork can submit your jobs to it, either one at a time or automatically. Both need two things from you: a DWT API code, and every container type mapped to a DWT container type. Automatic submission also needs the code linked to the right supplier.
Only organisation Owners can open Settings. Open it under Admin in the sidebar and click DWT codes. Like Email, this tab has no Save changes button — each change saves as you make it.
Add a DWT API code
You get the API code from DEFRA. It is a UUID, a long code made of letters, numbers and hyphens.
Click Add API code
A window titled Add API code opens.
Enter the code and a label
Paste the code into API code and give it a Description so you can recognise it later, such as the name of the site or account it belongs to. Both are required.
Link the suppliers it applies to
Under Suppliers, tick every supplier this code should be used for. This is how Paperwork finds the right code for a job: it takes the supplier of the job's disposal site and looks for a code linked to that supplier.
Set Default and Testing if they apply, then click Save
See below for what the two switches do. You will see API code saved.
To change a code, click Edit on its row. Delete removes it straight away, without asking you to confirm.
The table shows each code's Description, its Suppliers, and whether it is the Default and whether it is a Testing code.
- Default code — only one code can be the default. Making one the default switches it off on the others.
- Testing (sandbox) code — marks a code for DEFRA's test service. Jobs sent with it go to the test environment, not real records. Testing codes are exempt from the rule below.
If a job's supplier has no linked code, Paperwork will not submit it automatically. When a code is linked, it prefers a production code over a testing one, then the default, then the oldest.
Map your container types to DWT container types
DEFRA has its own list of container types. A job cannot be sent until every container type on its waste lines is mapped to one, and Paperwork will tell you so in the job's DWT submission window: "Container type '…' is not mapped to DWT container".
Open References
Click References under Admin and open Container Types.
Choose the DWT container type
Edit a container type and pick a value in DWT container type (optional). Each choice shows DEFRA's code and description, and you can search it. Click Save.
The DWT Container Types list in References is the full list of DEFRA's values. It is maintained by Dsposal and read-only. Despite the "(optional)" on the form, a container type with no DWT mapping blocks DWT submission for any job that uses it. See reference data.
Switch on automatic submission
The first control on the tab is a switch called Automatically submit and update jobs in Digital Waste Tracking. It saves as soon as you click it and you will see DWT automation enabled. Switching it off shows DWT automation disabled.
When it is on, Paperwork:
- gives completed jobs a Waste Tracking ID automatically if they were received in the last 30 days — straight away, and before the 2-working-day deadline at the latest
- updates the record when a job moves to invoicing
- updates it once more before the 30-day amend deadline
It needs a DWT API code linked to the job's supplier, as above.
Jobs received before you switched it on
The cut-off is the UK date on which the switch went from off to on. A job received on that date or later is eligible. Jobs already submitted keep being updated, whatever their date.
If you switch automation off and on again, the cut-off moves to the new date. To pick up older jobs, submit them yourself from the job.
What to do next
- Set up reference data, including container types and containers
- Add your suppliers and their disposal sites, which DWT codes are linked to
- Learn how jobs work
- Setup guide, step 12: Connect Xero, DWT and the customer portal if you are setting Paperwork up for the first time
Keep moving
Next steps
Explore further
Related Guides
Set up the lists Paperwork uses — tax rates, nominal codes, containers, departments, vehicles and more — and learn what depends on what
Add the carriers and disposal sites you use, import their registrations from the Environment Agency register, record waste fates, and understand the registration warnings on jobs
Raise a job from a sale, fix what the job check blocks, print the transfer paperwork, record what was collected and hand the job to invoicing
Set document prefixes, your Sales & Job prefix, the opportunity pipeline and the rules that apply to sales and jobs
Optionally connect Xero, Digital Waste Tracking and the customer portal once your first job has gone through: map every nominal code and tax rate, link DWT codes to suppliers and containers, and invite customers one person at a time