The Witch of the Waste is a character from the novel *Howl's Moving Castle* by Diana Wynne Jones. She is depicted as a powerful and malevolent sorceress who seeks to control others through her magic. Her appearance is often described as old and grotesque, reflecting her dark personality and intentions. In the story, the Witch of the Waste plays a significant role in the conflict between the protagonist, Sophie Hatter, and the wizard Howl Jenkins Pendragon. Her actions lead to Sophie being cursed and transformed into an elderly woman, setting off a chain of events that drive the plot forward.