EU Launches Digital Waste Shipment System to Streamline Cross-Border Material Trade

The European Union has launched its Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS), a centralized platform designed to manage documentation for cross-border shipments regulated under the EU Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR), including shipments of recyclable materials.

The system became operational on May 21 and is intended to replace paper-based procedures and fragmented national processes with a standardized electronic platform across EU member states. The European Commission said the move is aimed at improving efficiency, traceability and regulatory oversight of waste shipments within and through the bloc.

Under the new requirements, competent authorities and companies involved in shipments where an EU member state acts as the country of dispatch, destination or transit must use DIWASS to submit and process notification documents. The obligation applies to operators within the EU, while participation remains voluntary for companies and authorities located outside the bloc.

DIWASS serves as a single digital gateway for managing notification procedures, movement documents and regulatory approvals linked to waste shipments. The system is expected to support more consistent implementation of the Waste Shipment Regulation across member states while reducing administrative burdens associated with cross-border trade.

The platform covers a broad range of regulatory functions, including submission of shipment notifications, management of approval and objection procedures, generation of movement documents, issuance of pre-consent decisions for recovery facilities, and certification of completed waste treatment operations.

The launch comes as the EU continues to strengthen oversight of waste exports and recycling supply chains under its circular economy agenda. Improved traceability and digital recordkeeping are increasingly viewed as important tools for monitoring material flows, preventing illegal waste shipments and supporting compliance with environmental regulations.

While DIWASS is now mandatory for notification procedures, the European Commission has introduced a transitional arrangement for Annex VII documents, which are commonly used for certain shipments of waste destined for recovery. Due to ongoing technical challenges in linking the central platform with national systems and software, Annex VII documents may continue to be handled through existing processes, primarily in paper format, until Dec. 31, 2026.

The Commission said the temporary approach is intended to ensure continuity of operations while further integration and system functionality are completed.

Source: European Commission

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