Farming
Incineration
There are three main areas where incineration can be useful on farms;
- livestock carcase disposal
- chemical container disposal
- plant material disposal
However, incineration is regulated to minimise the impact on the environment. Netregs is a website from the Environment Agency designed to help businesses understand environmental regulations and explains the requirements that need to be met when incinerating on-farm.
Livestock carcase disposal
The Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 prohibits the burial, dumping or open-burning of fallen stock (dead animals), with few exceptions. Incineration can provide a safe way to deal with their carcases.
On-farm incinerators burning carcases or parts of carcases need to conform to specific standards. They must also be approved by the State Veterinary Service (SVS), which is responsible for inspection. SVS contact details are listed on the SVS website.
You must also get authorisation from your Local Authority or environmental regulator if you burn:
- animal carcases which are not from agricultural premises
- any other materials
Small-scale incinerators
Livestock producers with small-scale, on-farm incinerators should check with their Local Authority licensing department to see whether exemptions are available. Specific advice on managing incinerators with less than one tonne per hour capacity is offered in the Defra guidance note ‘IPPC SG10’.
General guidance on incinerator plants can be found on the Defra website. If you have any individual queries you should contact your local Animal Health Divisional Offices.
Further information on dealing with carcases, including incineration, is outlined in Defra’s Saving money by reducing waste – Waste minimisation manual: a practical guide for farmers and growers 
(725 KB). A paper version can be ordered from Defra Publications (PB11674), telephone 08459 556 000.
Mobile livestock incinerators
Incinerators which travel between farms can provide a solution for smaller livestock farms. To minimise pollution and the risk of disease being transferred between holdings, certain rules apply:
- the incinerator may only be used on premises approved for that purpose by the SVS
- the incinerator should disinfected between farms
- it must be managed by a named operator
- any liquid run-off, including rainwater, needs to be contained
- ash from the incinerator should be stored securely, until it can be taken to a licensed landfill site
Shared livestock incinerators
Groups of farmers may wish to join together and buy an incinerator to share between them. However because of the risk of disease infection, it is important that a shared incinerator is not sited on a livestock holdings, and that strict biosecurity measures are observed.
It may be possible to obtain some grant funding for sharing incineration facilities and the Small Business Service (an agency of the Department of Industry)
has a section on funding sources on its website.
Chemical container disposal
Drum incinerators, which are typically 45-gallon former fuel drums with holes punched in the sides, have traditionally been used to dispose of waste plastics. Examples are rinsed pesticide containers and fertiliser bags. Producers can carry on using drum containers until 15 May 2007. After that, waste plastics should be taken to a registered waste disposal site.
Plant material disposal
Waste produced as a result of processing and preparing flowers, vegetables and fruit can cause environmental pollution and spread disease. Incineration is one option for disposal.
Defra’s Code of Practice for the Management of Agricultural and Horticultural Waste explains that incinerators should be authorised under the Environmental Protection Act (1990). It also sets out minimum temperature recommendations for safe disposal of plant materials.
Legislation
The Waste Incineration Directive (WID) aims to minimise the impact of incineration on the environment. For detailed information on the WID, including regulations applying to all types of incinerated waste, see Defra’s Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste.
Paper copies can be ordered from Defra publications by telephoning 08459 556 000.
Useful links: External
- Small Business Service
- Animal Health
- National Fallen Stock Scheme
- Netregs website – Regulation advice for businesses, including a Farm Waste Training Tool.
Further information
Animal Health – 01905 768 862
Environment Agency national customer contact centre – 0845 603 3113
National Fallen Stock Scheme helpline – 0845 054 8888
Defra helpline – 0845 933 5577
Page last modified: 1 October 2008
Page published: 1 July 2006