Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Slow progress observed on the crucial digital waste tracking system project.
Recommendation
In October 2022, our report on government actions to combat waste crime found the Department was making slow progress on its digital waste tracking system, and was not even at the pilot stage after four years of effort, despite its implementation being core 42 C&AG’s Report, Figure 8 43 Committee of Public Accounts, Government actions to combat waste crime, Eighteenth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 33, 19 October 2022 44 Qq 9, 12 45 Q11; C&AG’s Report 1.24 46 Q 61 47 C&AG’s Report, para 11, 1.25 48 C&AG’s Report, para 1.25 49 C&AG’s Report para 1.26 50 Q69 16 Government’s programme of waste reforms to combatting waste crime.51 The Department told us it is confident the project will be completed by April 2025 within the budget of £9.5 million. It said it would launch the beta version to the public in 2024.52
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to the recommendation, committing to make the waste tracking service publicly available in 2024 and mandatory via legislation by April 2025, which will provide foundations for capturing comprehensive waste data. It also plans to publish new statistics by July 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2025 6.2 In 2024, the waste tracking service will be publicly available to users on a voluntary basis – this is expected to happen in phases with specific groups of users being invited to use the service over time. Green list waste exports are the first phase to have successfully transitioned to private beta at the end of 2023. 6.3 From April 2025, legislation will come into force across the UK, subject to approval across all four legislatures. The requirements of the regulations will be mandatory from this point and service charges will also be payable. This will provide the foundations for capturing information on waste generated and treated, including waste recycling. The Government response of the consultation outcome is published on Gov.UK. 6.4 The department is currently developing a Data Strategy, identifying and filling gaps around the required regular ongoing data to run policy and monitor progress within the Resources & Waste Strategy and Environmental Improvement Programme. This includes progress against targets in residual waste and municipal recycling rates and, if necessary, introducing legislation for new data reporting requirements. 6.5 The department’s key performance metrics are publicly reported and updated at least annually where possible. These form the core part of the 'Monitoring Progress' reports and track strategic priorities in the Resources & Waste Strategy. 6.6 The department is increasing the number of regular published statistics and from this year it will be up to at least 11 publications which is an ambitious target. Later in 2024, the department intends to address key data gaps by publishing new statistics on: • Residual waste by material type, to assess progress against the residual waste target, planned for May 2024. • Municipal recycling, using a new definition of Municipal Waste, probably July 2024. • Drivers of consumption-based carbon emissions, probably June 2024. 6.7 The department is also collecting new survey data as part of the Resources & Waste Strategy Evaluation Programme, which will give us valuable new insights as policies are implemented.