This page contains information on the data collected by WasteDataFlow and 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.

The data reported in WasteDataFlow is used for LAPCAP (local authority cost and performance) calculations. These are then used by PackUK to determine payments to local authorities. Timeliness and accuracy of the data reported in WasteDataFlow is paramount.

History

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 local authority waste collection and management. It was originally developed under the guidance of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Environmental Body - CIWM (EB), with funding from Biffaward and the Defra Landfill Tax Credit Scheme SWM Legacy Fund. The system replaced a number of the traditional local authority 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 was developed around a core set of questions (Core Dataset), 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.

Data

The core dataset is applicable to all Unitary Authorities (UAs), Waste Collection Authorities (WCAs) and Waste Disposal Authorities (WDAs). The WDF system also accommodates the collection of supplementary data to provide a comprehensive dataset on how waste is managed in the UK.

WasteDataFlow reporting underpins policy development for local authority collected waste and monitoring under the circular economy.

The waste collection and disposal tonnage data reported here is used almost in its entirety to calculate LAPCAP (local authority cost and performance) payments to local authorities).

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).

Core Dataset

WDF System Manual

• Section 1 - Getting Started
• Section 2 - System Management
• Section 3 - How to enter, authorise and validate data
• Section 4 - How to use the XML upload tool
• Section 5 - Reporting
• Section 6 - Full List of Reports
• Section 7 - Question Map
• Section 8 - Question by Question Guidance for English LAs (Note that a version of the Question by Question Guidance for English LAs which includes the questions replaced by Question 100 in 2014-15 can be found in the Archive.)
• Section 9 - Guidance for public users