WasteDataFlow Guidance
Introduction
This page contains information on the data collected by WasteDataFlow and the guidance documents
to assist data entry by local authorities. To view a summary of how the data entered by local
authorities is used click here -
How WDF Data is used.
WasteDataFlow went operational in April 2004, as a web-based system developed for local authorities
in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to report essential information on municipal waste
collection and management. The system was developed to replace a number of the traditional municipal
waste management surveys, providing a single comprehensive data return and more frequent monitoring of
progress against Article 5 of the Landfill Directive.
England and Wales started to use the WDF system in April 2004. Northern Ireland undertook a 6-month
pilot scheme and made the transition to WDF reporting in April 2005. Scotland officially started to
report data into WDF in 2006, following a pilot quarter where local authorities were asked to complete
data returns in both WasteDataFlow and by using the old reporting return in order to compare the two
and allow for a smooth transition.
The WasteDataFlow system has been developed around a core set of questions
(Core Dataset), which has
been agreed by Defra, the Environment Agency (England & Wales), Welsh Assembly Government, DOENI and NIEA,
the Scottish Executive and SEPA with inputs from LGA, GLA, CapitalWasteFacts, WRAP, CIWM and others.
The core dataset is applicable to all Unitary Authorities (UAs), Waste Collection Authorities (WCAs) and
Waste Disposal Authorities (WDAs). It accommodated the Monitoring Authorities' mandate to monitor progress
against Article 5 of the Landfill Directive and provides information to monitor progress against national
and EU targets. The WDF system also accommodates the collection of supplementary data to provide a
comprehensive dataset on how waste is managed in the UK.
Guidance Notes and Factsheets
The WasteDataFlow guidance notes and factsheets can be downloaded as Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)
files below. If you are unable to view PDFs, a free viewer can be downloaded from the
Adobe website.
The Core Dataset and WDF System Manual are applicable to all countries. Guidance Notes specific to Wales,
Northern Ireland, Scotland and England can be accessed by clicking on the links below.
|
Core Dataset |
WDF System Manual |
Wales Guidance |
Northern Ireland Guidance |
Scotland Guidance |
England Guidance |
Fly-tipping module |
Core Dataset
The Core Dataset provides details of all the questions available to complete in WDF. The questions are
listed by question type, frequency of completion, type of local authority (WCA, WDA or UA) and by country
(England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales).
You can download the WDF System Manual as individual sections. This manual is periodically updated to incorporate the latest guidance into a concise manual.