The Department, which is seeking to publish results just once every 12 months, claims local authorities have signalled they would not be concerned by the change in frequency.
Waste and recycling is just one of a number of datasets Defra has proposed shaking-up due to a change in requirements among a “range of users” which are becoming “more complex”.
Defra has historically used the publication of its own data to inform policy making and operational delivery.
The recycling statistics, which cover recycling performance across four three-month periods between April and March each year, are also a useful indicator of progress made by local authorities towards meeting the 50% national target by 2020 – as well as seasonal variations specific to each quarter.
March
However, Defra has proposed moving to an annual publication of household waste and recycling results after the next set of quarterly data is released in March 2016.
Councils would be able to retain quarterly reporting, with interim reports to remain available via WasteDataFlow where they are already published four times a year.
It follows the release of a report on waste data transparency by consultancy Ricardo-AEA earlier this month, which urged government to publish open source data – as well as a review of WasteDataFlow to ensure councils are working to the same definitions when reporting their recycling results (see letsrecycle.com story).
‘Concern’
In its reasoning Defra states: “Initial views from policy colleagues and a selection of Local Authority representatives is that they would not be overly concerned about reducing the frequency of publication of the statistics released from quarterly to annually.”
The specific proposals on changes to official statistics has been put to an online consultation, which opens today and is due to run for four weeks.
Defra’s overview states: “The consultation invites views on a proposed set of specific changes to ‘Official Statistics’ produced across the Defra group in line with our aim of being an open, efficient and data driven department. Response to the consultation will help us judge whether we are making the right decisions.
“We are also inviting any general feedback on the uses made of our statistical products; other ideas on how we can further reduce burdens on survey respondents or introduce further efficiencies in our compilation of statistics.”
Subscribe for free