09/12/2025
From May 21, 2026, DIWASS will be mandatory for cross-border waste transport in the EU. But what exactly is DIWASS and how can you prepare for this new regulation?
Waste Shipment Regulation
The Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) governs the rules for cross-border waste transport within the EU and in trade with third countries. In 2024, the new, revised version was approved by the Council of the EU to modernize the rules.
Key objectives:
- Better monitoring and combating of illegal or problematic waste streams;
- Improving procedures for waste transport within the EU;
- Providing support for the transition to a circular economy in the EU by strengthening the internal market for waste and facilitating the transport of waste intended for recycling between member states;
- Forming stricter rules for the export of waste to countries outside the EU, only when those countries can demonstrate that they can process waste in an environmentally sound manner.
Introduction of DIWASS
One of the most significant changes is the transition to a fully digital system: DIWASS (Digital Waste Shipment System). Through DIWASS, documents and notifications can be submitted electronically. The system then collects all the documents needed for waste transport, sends notifications to various involved authorities, tracks the status of the transport application, and ensures that everyone sees the same, correct information. This makes the process faster, more transparent, efficient, and less prone to errors.
From May 21, 2026, the use of DIWASS will be mandatory for all intra-EU waste transports.
Specifically, DIWASS will be used for two types of procedures:
- Transfers for which the notification procedure applies;
- Transfers for which no notification is required, but a document according to Annex VII of the law – also known as Annex VII – must be prepared.
What does this mean for you?
If you meet one of the conditions, you must make a digital notification via DIWASS from May 21, 2026, before executing the transport.
An extra digital system? Not necessarily.
When member states or companies already use existing local digital systems, that software must become interoperable with DIWASS via APIs. The technical requirements for this are laid down in an implementing decision of July 2025.
In Flanders, OVAM has already confirmed that for waste transports for which the notification procedure applies, their current digital solution must continue to be used (OVAM digital portal). When the notification does not apply and only an Annex VII is required, companies will have to register this directly in DIWASS.
Pionira is closely involved in this transition and ensures interoperability between our application eWastra and DIWASS.
More information can be found on the website of the European Commission.
