Recommendation 10

Defra and the Agency told us about a range of initiatives to improve data, including recent consultations on introducing digital waste tracking and reforming the system for registering as a waste carrier, broker or dealer.26 The Agency told us it was working more closely with the legitimate waste industry to get a handle on the extent and nature of waste crime, and seeking to encourage members of the public to report waste crime.27 Defra said it had supported development of apps to enable public reporting of fly-tipping. Nonetheless, Defra told us it needed an external contractor to carry out further work looking at gaps in data later this year, in order to “get us on a programme” for data improvement.28