What is the DEFRA Digital Waste Tracking mandate?

The Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) mandate is a law under the Environment Act 2021 requiring all waste receiving sites in England to record waste movements digitally from 1 October 2026. Paper waste transfer notes, spreadsheets, and email chains will no longer be sufficient. Producers and carriers who fail to submit digital records face Environment Agency enforcement action, including fines and prosecution.

What is BREEAM Wst01 and how does WasteMapper help?

BREEAM Wst01 is the construction waste management credit in BREEAM UK New Construction — the UK's leading sustainability rating system for buildings. It requires a minimum 95% waste diversion rate by weight, a pre-construction Site Waste Management Plan, and a complete digital movement register with EWC codes, carrier licence details, and disposal routes for every collection. WasteMapper generates the exact evidence pack format BREEAM assessors expect in one click — covering a process that typically takes contractors two days to compile manually.

What happens if my construction business isn't DWT-compliant by October 2026?

From 1 October 2026, waste receiving sites that fail to record movements digitally face Environment Agency enforcement. The EA fined over £8.5 million across the construction sector in 2025 alone. Non-compliance also creates duty of care liability — if waste is mis-described or ends up fly-tipped, the producer bears responsibility without proper digital records to prove due diligence.

How does WasteMapper verify waste carrier licences?

Every time a waste movement is logged, WasteMapper checks the carrier's licence number live against the Environment Agency's public register in real time. If a carrier's registration is expired, suspended, or invalid, the system flags it immediately — before the vehicle leaves site. This verification is recorded permanently on every movement record, providing your duty of care evidence.

Who is WasteMapper built for?

WasteMapper is designed for SME construction contractors and developers who need waste compliance without a dedicated environmental manager. If waste management currently falls to a site manager, a quantity surveyor, or "whoever deals with it," WasteMapper is built for you. It works across house-builders, groundworks contractors, fit-out specialists, and main contractors on BREEAM-rated projects.

How quickly can site workers start logging waste?

Site workers can start logging in under 60 seconds with no app download and no login required. They scan a QR code placed on site, select the waste type, photograph the collection, and submit. GPS, timestamp, employee ID, and carrier details are captured automatically. Setup for a new project typically takes under 5 minutes.

Is WasteMapper free to try?

Yes. WasteMapper has a free plan that supports 1 project and 50 waste movements per month — no credit card required. Paid plans start at £49/month for single-site contractors (Site plan). The Pro plan at £199/month covers up to 10 projects with multi-site dashboards, ESG reporting, and compliance alerts.

Does WasteMapper integrate with the GOV.UK Digital Waste Tracking service?

Yes. WasteMapper creates digital waste records that are compatible with DEFRA's DWT reporting requirements. The Intelligence plan (£499/month) includes full DEFRA API integration for automated submission — removing the need for manual data exports as the October 2026 deadline approaches.

Can I use estimated tonnages in the BREEAM Wst01 Calculator?

Yes, for checking your current trajectory during a project. However, a final BREEAM Wst01 submission requires actual documented tonnages from weighbridge tickets or carrier Waste Transfer Notes — not estimates. The calculator is an indicative planning tool; BREEAM assessors require the underlying movement records.

Does the WasteMapper BREEAM Wst01 Calculator produce an evidence pack?

The free calculator shows your diversion rate and indicative credit level only. A full Wst01 evidence pack — the complete movement register with EWC codes, carrier licence verifications, destination facility details, and a one-click assessor-ready PDF — requires a WasteMapper paid plan (Site plan at £49/month or above).

What else do I need for a full BREEAM Wst01 submission besides the diversion rate?

A complete Wst01 submission requires three things in addition to the diversion rate: (1) a pre-construction Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) produced before work starts; (2) a movement register listing every waste collection with EWC code, carrier registration number, and destination facility; and (3) documented evidence of the disposal route for every non-landfill movement. The diversion rate calculation is one part of the submission — documentation of every movement is the more commonly failed element.

Tools/BREEAM Wst01 Calculator/How to use

Free · No sign-up · Up to 3 credits

How to use the BREEAM Wst01 Calculator

Enter your construction waste streams, see your diversion rate, and find out which BREEAM Wst01 credit level — 1, 2, or 3 credits — your project is on track for. Takes under 2 minutes.

Open the BREEAM Wst01 Calculator

Step-by-step

Open the BREEAM Wst01 Calculator

Go to the free calculator — no account or sign-up required. Works on desktop and mobile.

Add your first waste stream

Type the waste material in the "Waste type" field or select from the autocomplete list (Concrete / bricks / tiles, Timber, Metal, Mixed C&D waste, Plasterboard / gypsum, Cardboard / packaging, Soil / excavation). Enter the total tonnes produced for that stream in the "Total (t)" column.

Enter tonnes diverted from landfill

In the "Diverted (t)" column, enter how many tonnes of that stream were sent to recycling, reuse, or energy recovery — not to landfill. Use weighbridge tickets or estimated volumes if you're mid-project.

Diverted means the waste did not go to landfill and you have a Waste Transfer Note showing the destination.

Add all remaining waste streams

Click "Add waste stream" for each additional waste type on your project. The more streams you add, the more accurate your diversion rate. Enter total and diverted tonnes for each.

Read your diversion rate and credit level

The results panel shows your overall diversion rate as a percentage and the credit level you're on track for: 3 credits (≥95%), 2 credits (≥80%), 1 credit (≥70%), or no credit (<70%). It also shows how many additional percentage points you need to reach the next threshold.

BREEAM Wst01 credit thresholds

3 credits

≥ 95% diversion

Highest level — requires near-total diversion from landfill

2 credits

≥ 80% diversion

Good performance — most well-managed sites can achieve this

1 credit

≥ 70% diversion

Minimum credit — requires documented evidence for all streams

No credit

< 70% diversion

Wst01 credit not awarded at this level regardless of effort

Frequently asked questions

What diversion rate do I need for each BREEAM Wst01 credit level?

3 credits requires ≥95% diversion by weight; 2 credits requires ≥80%; 1 credit requires ≥70%. Below 70%, no Wst01 credit is awarded.

What counts as diverted waste for BREEAM Wst01?

Any waste sent to recycling, reuse, or energy recovery — not to landfill. Concrete/bricks to aggregate recyclers, timber to biomass, metals to scrap merchants, mixed C&D to a licensed MRF. You need a Waste Transfer Note with the destination facility as evidence.

Can I use estimated tonnages?

Yes for tracking during the project. A final BREEAM submission requires actual documented tonnages from weighbridge tickets or Waste Transfer Notes — not estimates.

Does this calculator produce a BREEAM evidence pack?

No — it shows your diversion rate only. A full evidence pack (movement register, EWC codes, carrier verifications, assessor-ready PDF) requires WasteMapper Site plan or above.

What else do I need beyond the diversion rate for a full Wst01 submission?

A pre-construction SWMP, a movement register with EWC codes and carrier details for every collection, and documented evidence of disposal route for every non-landfill movement. Missing documentation is the most common reason Wst01 credits are failed.

Does plasterboard count as inert waste for BREEAM?

No. Plasterboard (gypsum) is non-hazardous special waste, not inert. It must be segregated and sent to a licensed plasterboard recycler. Mixing it with inert waste creates a compliance issue with both BREEAM and EA regulations.

Ready to calculate your diversion rate?

The free calculator gives you an instant diversion rate and credit level. No sign-up, no card.

Open calculator Get the full evidence pack