Looking for a WasteMatrix alternative?

If you are comparing waste software, the honest question is which one fits how you work. WasteMatrix and Consigns sit at different points in the waste journey, and this page lays out the difference plainly, using what WasteMatrix says publicly about itself and what Consigns does.

What WasteMatrix is

WasteMatrix describes itself as a DEFRA waste tracking software vendor, with the line "DWT compliance, built from the inside". Their site says WasteMatrix is checked by DEFRA and live, ready to send to DEFRA's system. It is built for permitted receiving sites, transfer stations, landfill and recycling facilities, with one hub account to manage several sites, 842 EWC codes built in, and cross-site reporting.

In short, it is a strong fit if your main job is recording the waste your sites take in across one or many permits. That multi-site receiving is its focus.

What Consigns does differently

Consigns starts earlier in the journey. It is built for the carrier, the business that collects and moves the waste, not only the site that receives it. It runs the whole job, from the booking to the record.

• The carrier's full workflow. Book a collection, send a driver, capture the note, file the receipt.
• Digital consignment notes, built around the official HWCN01 form and made as you work. See our guide to digital consignment notes.
• The compliance checks built in. Look up EWC codes as you type, and check your permits and carrier registration against the public register, so nothing slips.
• On-site signatures that work offline, so drivers finish collections in a dead spot and the data syncs later.
• A driver app for roadside checks, with the in-flight note ready on a phone.
• Live with DEFRA. DEFRA has checked Consigns and switched it on for its live system, so your waste tracking receipts go to DEFRA for you, for real, the moment a job finishes.
• A free 14-day trial you can start today, with no demo to book.

WasteMatrix vs Consigns, at a glance

Here is the short version. Each column is what that product is built to be good at, not a score against the other.

Which should you choose?

Both are live with DEFRA, so this is a choice about how much of the job you want one tool to do. WasteMatrix is built for the receiving side. If you run several permitted sites and only need to record what comes in, their multi-site setup may suit you, so book a demo with them.

But most carriers do more than receive waste, and Consigns does more for you. It handles the receiving-site receipt too, plus the collection, the driver and the consignment note, all live with DEFRA. For most operators, one tool for the whole journey beats a receiving-site specialist. You can try it free for 14 days and decide for yourself.

Still weighing up your options? See how Consigns compares with DigitalWTN and Quick Consign.