In an update to industry, the regulatory confirms the reforms will be delivered to enhance reporting and compliance activity under existing powers.
It also proposes a separate charge to fund that activity, subject to consultation and Ministerial approval.
The EA confirmed that the reforms apply solely to exports of Article 18 waste.
Imports of Green List waste into England will not be subject to the new reporting requirements or any future charges, should they be approved.
Reporting changes to begin in July 2026
From 1 July 2026, all exports of Article 18 (Green List) waste will need to be reported to the EA.
The regulator said the move is designed to improve oversight of waste exports and ensure materials are handled appropriately once they leave England.
Under the new requirements, exporters will be expected to submit Annex VII data on a monthly basis, with information provided retrospectively for the previous month’s shipments.
The EA said the changes will be supported by new digital tools and increased compliance activity, enabling it to better track waste movements.
It said: “These measures will aim to enable the EA to verify that waste is correctly classified, reaches its intended destination and is managed in an environmentally sound manner.”
The agency added that the reforms are intended to “support legitimate business and support the fight against waste crime”, while ensuring waste is managed in a way that protects human health and the environment both domestically and overseas.
Evidence requirements expanded
Alongside the reporting obligations, exporters will be required to submit a range of supporting evidence relating to receiving facilities overseas.
Minimum requirements outlined by the EA include:
- Proof that the recovery facility is authorised under domestic law to receive and treat waste
- GPS location data for the site
- Geotagged photographs of equipment and processing activities
- A process flow chart detailing operations and outputs
- A valid Article 18 contract between the notifier and consignee
- Contact details for a named person at the facility
- Copies of relevant import licences or permits
Additional documentation may also be requested to demonstrate environmentally sound management, such as environmental management systems, health and safety measures, monitoring programmes, staff training provisions and emergency plans.
The agency noted that individual destination countries may impose further requirements beyond this minimum dataset.
Charges subject to consultation
In parallel with the operational changes, the EA is proposing to introduce charges to fund the expanded compliance regime.
However, these charges will be subject to a public consultation and require Ministerial approval before being implemented.
The regulator indicated that further details, including consultation documents and a mechanism for industry feedback, are expected to be published within the next month.
It emphasised that the reporting requirements and increased compliance activity will proceed independently of the charging consultation.
Find out more about Article 18 changes from Rob Scarpello, Senior Advisor at the EA, at the Waste Exports Conference on 28 April 2026 in London.
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