Animal by-products: Composting & biogas
Under the Waste Strategy 2000, the Government has strict targets to meet for the recycling or composting of household waste for England and Wales. Under the EU Landfill Directive, the UK also has to meet targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste sent for landfill. By 2020 the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent for landfill must be reduced to 35% of the amount produced in 1995. Composting and biogas digestion are seen as vital tools for achieving these targets.
The EU Animal By-Products Regulation permits the use of composting and biogas treatments for catering waste and Category 3 animal by-products.
- Q&A: Treatment in approved composting or biogas plants of animal by-products and catering waste.
- Composting briefing note.
- An application form (ABPR1) for treating animal by-products and/or catering waste in composting or biogas plants.
- Guidance on treatment
in approved composting or biogas plants of animal by-products and catering
waste
(121 KB). - A risk assessment was commissioned by Defra in 2002 to examine any risks to public and animal health from the use of catering waste in composting and biogas treatment.
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion on the biological risks of biogas and compost treatment standards of animal by-products, adopted September 2005.
Page last modified:
11 July 2006