Agricultural Waste Regulations 2006

This legislation came into force on 15 May 2006 and seeks to bring agricultural waste regulations in line with all other UK industrial waste controls.  It is however important to note that manure is not classed as waste in this instance if it is being used as fertiliser.  Unfortunately the majority of agricultural waste has in the past been disposed of on site by burning or burial which poses serious threats to the environment.  Now farmers will need to either store up their waste for a maximum of twelve months prior to disposal at a licenced site, or apply to the Environment Agency for a landfill permit, licence exemption or waste management licence.

Farmers will still be able to let organic waste rot down on their land subject to Environment Agency Licensing approvals, licences will not however be required for by-products of food manufacturing processes such as spent yeast or sugar derivatives as long as they are used for animal feed.  Spreading of food manufacturing by-products onto land as fertiliser will require licensing.  The disposal of fallen stock will come under the EU Animal By-Product Regulations, as will all issues surrounding fallen stock incineration on site.  The disposal of sheep dip and pesticide washings to land will be permitted as long as a groundwater authorisation is obtained from the Environment Agency.

The government announced in March 2006 that it would be creating producer responsibility regulations to specifically target waste plastic films such as silage wrap so that collection and recycling could be increased.  The regulation is still in the formulation stage at present but it is likely to follow the same pattern as the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Regulations) as it will make the producers of agricultural films responsible for the funding of collection schemes.