A new digital system has been launched that mean that over 12,000 permitted waste sites across England must report, in near real-time, every single load of waste that they receive.

Previously, rogue operators have been using a paper-based system that has allowed them to falsify documents and bury evidence of illegal dumping.

The new ‘Report Receipt of Waste’ service will provide investigators with a digital audit trail, which will expose suspicious patterns.

Waste drop off sites will now need to record information like the details of the waste carrier and the waste classification code.

The Environment Agency will use the data gathered through the service to identify discrepancies between reported collections and receipts, helping to flag suspicious activity and target investigations against operators suspected of illegal dumping, mislabelling waste or handling waste illegally.

A new Waste Crime Crackdown Group, chaired by Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, will also bring regulators and law enforcement together to dismantle criminal operations and deliver results. 

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “Waste criminals used to exploit the gaps but now they will have nowhere to hide.

“We are backing the communities whose lives have been blighted by this disgusting crime. Through this new service, real time information will mean faster enforcement and more evidence to catch rogue operators and shut them down at every part of the waste journey.”