IN BRIEF
The date to remember
Until 15 September 2026, operators registered with RENTRI may still choose to issue the FIR on paper or digitally. From 16 September 2026, the digital FIR becomes mandatory for all registered operators. The format chosen by the producer or holder determines the format used by the entire chain.
Transitional period
A registered producer or holder may choose a paper or digital FIR. Every party involved must then manage the document in the same format.
Mandatory digital FIR
Operators registered with RENTRI must issue and manage the form digitally under the rules applicable to their position.
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
From the new form to digital traceability.
Italian Ministerial Decree No. 59 of 4 April 2023 regulates the waste traceability system and the national electronic register known as RENTRI. Its implementation introduced new register and FIR models, technical rules and digital services for operators.
Law No. 26 of 27 February 2026 introduced a transitional period in which the paper FIR may be used as an alternative to the digital form until 15 September 2026. The completion instructions were updated again by Director's Decree No. 210 of 31 July 2026.
ONE FORMAT THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY
The initial choice binds the whole chain.
During the transitional period, if the producer or holder issues a digital FIR, the carrier and receiving facility must continue digitally through acceptance. Printing the document does not replace the digital FIR.
If the FIR is issued on paper, the entire movement must remain paper-based. The format cannot be changed freely between dispatch, transport and receipt, except under the specific procedures provided when RENTRI services are unavailable.
THE OPERATING FLOW
Who completes and signs the digital FIR.
The producer or holder starts and validates the form, enters the information within its remit and signs it. The carrier adds dispatch data and any transport events, then signs the information entered.
At destination, the receiving facility completes the acceptance or rejection details, signs the form and returns the complete copy to the parties involved. Hazardous waste is also subject to the RENTRI data-transmission obligations applicable across the chain.
- Producer or holder: issue, completion and signature
- Carrier: journey information and signature
- Receiving facility: acceptance or rejection, signature and return
- Obliged parties: data transmission in the cases and within the time limits required
WHO SHOULD CHECK THEIR POSITION
Not every producer has the same obligations.
The digital obligation applies to parties registered with RENTRI. Some producers are not required to register and continue to use the dedicated area to issue and validate a paper FIR under the applicable rules.
Employee numbers, business activity and waste type may affect a company's position. Before adopting a procedure, verify the applicable status on the official portal or with a qualified Italian environmental adviser.
TOOLS AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY
Portal, mobile app and management systems.
The digital FIR can be managed through RENTRI's support services or interoperable management software. The RENTRI app allows authorised users to complete, supplement and sign the document at the different stages of movement.
Businesses must also understand the official procedures to follow if RENTRI services are unavailable. An ordinary printout of the digital form is not, on its own, a valid alternative procedure.
OPERATING CHECKLIST
What to check before 16 September
Effective preparation covers people, tools and coordination with the other parties involved in the movement.
- 01
Verify registration and the status of the relevant Italian local units.
- 02
Identify representatives and users authorised to operate.
- 03
Configure the portal, mobile app or interoperable software in advance.
- 04
Test validation, completion, signature and sharing of the form.
- 05
Align master data with the carrier and receiving facility.
- 06
Define who checks quantity, classification and load information.
- 07
Understand the official procedure for service unavailability.
- 08
Retain evidence of checks and internal procedures adopted.
COMPLIANCE
Penalties: why accuracy matters
The RENTRI portal states that penalties concerning missing or incomplete transmission of FIR data apply from 15 September 2026. Article 258 of Italian Legislative Decree 152/2006 also governs violations involving registers and waste identification forms, distinguishing omissions, incomplete or inaccurate data, formal breaches and cases involving hazardous waste.
There is therefore no single penalty for every error. The consequence depends on the specific conduct, whether the information is relevant to traceability and the type of waste. Specific cases require the current Italian legislation and advice from a qualified professional.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the digital FIR
Can a printout replace the digital FIR?
No. Once issued digitally, the FIR must be managed digitally through acceptance. A printout may accompany the journey operationally, but it does not replace the digital document.
Can paper still be used until 15 September?
Yes. During the transitional period a registered producer or holder may choose paper, in which case the whole chain must manage the form on paper.
Must every waste producer use a digital FIR from 16 September?
The obligation applies to parties registered with RENTRI. Producers not required to register must follow the rules applicable to their position and verify them on the official portal.
Does a digital FIR remove the need to check the information?
No. Digitisation does not automatically transfer responsibility or correct classification, quantity or operating data. Each party must check the information within its remit.
REFERENCES
Official sources used
This guide was prepared exclusively from legislation and official materials available on the date shown above.
- Ministerial Decree No. 59 of 4 April 2023 — Official Gazette
- Paper FIR available until 15 September 2026 — RENTRI
- Digital FIR management and mandatory date — RENTRI
- Instructions updated by Director's Decree No. 210/2026 — RENTRI
- Digital FIR support services and app — RENTRI
- Area for waste producers not registered with RENTRI — RENTRI
- Article 258 of Legislative Decree 152/2006 — Normattiva
General information about Italian requirements, updated 2 September 2026. It is not legal or environmental advice and does not replace verification of the company's specific position, waste classification or current legislation.