Managing agricultural waste

Note: This is our original regulation update text, published on 26 April 2007. Unlike the rest of our site, this archived material is not updated if the law changes.

Relevant to
Farmers and growers in England and Wales

Took effect on
2 May 2007

From 2 May 2007, three new exemptions from waste management licensing will be added to those already in force:

land treatment of ash from on-farm incineration of pig and poultry carcases
land treatment of dredging spoil from farm ditches
disposal of pesticide washings in a lined biobed

If you wish to dispose of or recover agricultural waste under any exemption from waste licensing, you must register these with the Environment Agency before 15 May 2007. You will only have to register once for most exemptions.

From 15 May 2007, you must comply with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. This means stricter controls on the disposal, recovery and movement of hazardous waste.

If you produce more than 500kg/1100lbs or 500 litres/110 gallons of hazardous waste, you must register as a hazardous waste producer before 15 May 2007. You must do so even if your waste disposal and recovery activities are exempt from licensing.

A consignment note must accompany the movement of hazardous waste from any premises - including those exempt from registration.

You must continue to dispose of, move or recover agricultural waste in ways that protect the environment and human health. How you do so will depend on whether your farm produces hazardous, potentially hazardous or non-hazardous waste. Once you have identified the type of waste, you will have to use the appropriate disposal or recovery method. The available options - which can be used in combination - are to:

store waste on farm, pending collection on site for up to 12 months
send or take your agricultural waste for disposal off-farm at licensed sites
register a licensing exemption with the Environment Agency to recover or dispose of waste on-farm
apply to the Environment Agency for a licence to continue on-farm disposal or recovery

Full title of regulation
Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007

From
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

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Environment Agency Agricultural Waste Helpline

0845 603 3113

Managing agricultural waste

Environment Agency Agricultural Waste Helpline

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