J6: Waste Crime
Short Description
This indicator tracks changes in the scale of key aspects of waste crime. Waste crime is a broad term encompassing fly-tipping, illegal waste sites, illegal waste exports, the misdescription of waste and illegal waste dumping, among other illegal waste-related activities. If not handled properly, waste can cause serious pollution of the environment – air, land and water, which can also be harmful to health. It further reduces the availability of resources from waste. Current data reported include illegal waste sites and fly-tipping. The underpinning data can be used to establish the level of criminal activity for some aspects of waste crime and geographic distribution. Options for further development will be considered, including the impacts and behavioural aspects of waste crime, the amount and types of potential resources lost through waste crime, and to reflect the need for targeting and effective enforcement to deliver reductions in the level of criminal activities.
Readiness and links to data
This indicator shows the number of: (a) illegal waste sites and (b) fly-tipping incidents in England. Some data on illegal waste sites (waste crime) and fly-tipping are already published, but further work aims to develop a final indicator.
Indicator components
Figure J6a: Illegal waste sites in England, 2009/2010 to 2023/2024
Table J6a: Illegal waste sites in England, 2009/2010 to 2023/2024
| Financial year | Active high-risk sites | Total active sites |
|---|---|---|
| 2009/2010 | - | 680.00 |
| 2010/2011 | - | 618.00 |
| 2011/2012 | 315.00 | 1,011.00 |
| 2012/2013 | 353.00 | 820.00 |
| 2013/2014 | 272.00 | 556.00 |
| 2014/2015 | 282.00 | 598.00 |
| 2015/2016 | 273.00 | 622.00 |
| 2016/2017 | 262.00 | 601.00 |
| 2017/2018 | 267.00 | 673.00 |
| 2018/2019 | 255.00 | 685.00 |
| 2019/2020 | 238.00 | 544.00 |
| 2020/2021 | 197.00 | 470.00 |
| 2021/2022 | 188.00 | 419.00 |
| 2022/2023 | 174.00 | 407.00 |
| 2023/2024 | 164.00 | 344.00 |
Trend description for J6a
The total number of illegal waste sites in England fell from a peak of 1,011 active sites in the 2011/2012 financial year to 556 active sites in 2013/2014. Since then, the number increased gradually, reaching 685 sites in 2018/2019, before falling again to 344 sites in 2023/2024. The number of active high-risk illegal waste sites fell by 54% from a peak of 353 sites in 2012/2013 to 164 sites in 2023/2024.
Assessment of change
There has been a decrease (an improvement) recorded over the short-, medium- and long-term for the total number of active illegal waste sites in England.
Change since 2018 has also been assessed. The number of illegal waste sites has decreased since the 2018/2019 financial year.
Further information on this assessment, along with details on the methodology, is provided in the Assessment background page. Summaries by 25 Year Environment Plan goal and information on indicator links are presented in the Assessment results pages.
Table J6a: Assessment of change
| Component | Subcomponent | Period | Date range | Percentage change | Smoothing function | Assessment of change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J6a | Total active sites | Short term | 2018/2019 to 2023/2024 | -47.55 | Loess | Improvement |
| J6a | Total active sites | Medium term | 2013/2014 to 2023/2024 | -51.23 | Loess | Improvement |
| J6a | Total active sites | Long term | 2009/2010 to 2023/2024 | -53.89 | Loess | Improvement |
Note that assessment categories were assigned based on smoothed data, so percentage change figures in table J6a may differ from unsmoothed values quoted elsewhere. Percentage change refers to the difference seen from the first to last year in the specified date range.
Figure J6b: fly-tipping incidents in England, 2007/2008 to 2023/2024
Table J6b: fly-tipping incidents in England, 2007/2008 to 2023/2024
| Financial year | New Methodology | Old Methodology |
|---|---|---|
| 2007/2008 | - | 1,284.12 |
| 2008/2009 | - | 1,165.00 |
| 2009/2010 | - | 946.91 |
| 2010/2011 | - | 819.57 |
| 2011/2012 | - | 744.41 |
| 2012/2013 | - | 714.64 |
| 2013/2014 | - | 857.65 |
| 2014/2015 | - | 905.60 |
| 2015/2016 | - | 941.90 |
| 2016/2017 | - | 1,011.20 |
| 2017/2018 | - | 997.61 |
| 2018/2019 | 957.16 | 1,072.47 |
| 2019/2020 | 979.73 | - |
| 2020/2021 | 1,138.35 | - |
| 2021/2022 | 1,091.02 | - |
| 2022/2023 | 1,084.04 | - |
| 2023/2024 | 1,152.62 | - |
Trend description for J6b
The total number of fly-tipping incidents reported in England fell from 1.28 million incidents in the 2007/2008 financial year to 715,000 incidents in 2012/2013. Since these initial reductions, the number of incidents reported under the old methodology increased to 1.07 million between 2012/2013 and 2018/2019. The total number of fly-tipping incidents reported in 2018/2019 under the new methodology was 957,000. In the 5 years to 2023/2024, this total increased by 20.4% to 1.15 million incidents.
Assessment of change
A new methodology was introduced in 2018 for this indicator. As there are 6 data points available using the new methodology, a short term assessment on smoothed data has been conducted.
There has been an increase (deterioration) in the total number of fly-tipping incidents reported in England over the short term.
Further information on this assessment, along with details on the methodology, is provided in the Assessment background page. Summaries by 25 Year Environment Plan goal and information on indicator links are presented in the Assessment results pages.
Table J6b: Assessment of change
| Component | Subcomponent | Period | Date range | Percentage change | Smoothing function | Assessment of change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J6b | New Methodology | Short term | 2018/2019 to 2023/2024 | 20.42 | Loess | Deterioration |
| J6b | New Methodology | Medium term | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not assessed |
| J6b | New Methodology | Long term | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not assessed |
Note that assessment categories were assigned based on smoothed data, so percentage change figures in table J6b may differ from unsmoothed values quoted elsewhere. Percentage change refers to the difference seen from the first to last year in the specified date range.