1,000 firms switch to electronic-WTNs

More than 1,000 companies have registered to use the Environment Agency's new electronic waste transfer system, edoc, just two months after its launch

edoc (edoconline.co.uk) has been praised by early adopters as "greener and cheaper" than paper waste transfer notes and as helping organisations become more aware of the amount of waste they are producing.

The voluntary system, which was developed by the Environment Agency and the devolved governments to make recording waste movements in the UK quicker and simpler, was launched on 28 January and could, according to Defra, help businesses to save a total of £8.7 million a year in administration costs.

Toni Robinson, compliance manager at Grundon Waste Management, the UK's largest privately-owned waste management group, confirmed that using edoc was speeding up the waste transfer note process.

"We issue around 2,000 waste transfer notes each month so being able to use the online system to issue them is much more efficient, simpler and easier than through the old paper system," he said.

"It is also much easier for our customers to edit, sign and share the notes and we are able to review and accept any changes made at the touch of button. The whole process is just greener, cheaper and trouble-free."

Meanwhile, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, which helped to develop edoc, said it also offers benefits to smaller organisations.

"Like many small waste producers, we were glad to see the introduction of an online system but didn't feel that it would have a huge impact on our business. However, we have experienced some positive and unexpected benefits," commented Tina Benfield, senior technical advisor at CIWM.

"Because we have had to weigh the amount of waste we produce each week for our collections, we have started to monitor more closely what we have been throwing away. As a result we have noticed that using edoc has made us all even more mindful of our waste and our overall waste production each week has decreased."

Chris Deed, edoc programme manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We are delighted with the response so far. The level of interest we have had from organisations from a cross-section of sectors indicates that people understand, accept and embrace the system."

edoc is free to use and is applicable throughout the UK. For more information read the environmentalist's Q&A with Chris Deed here