Farming
Landfill
A landfill is a waste disposal site for the deposit of waste onto or into the land. In the past there has been a reliance on sending most waste to landfill. However, new laws aim to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, because of its impact on the environment and to human health.
There are three key issues concerning landfill:
- burying farm waste on your own premises
- sending farm waste from your business to licensed landfill
- receiving landfill waste from other businesses
Burying farm waste on your own premises
The Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2006 (Agricultural Waste Regulations) introduced in May 2006 mean you can no longer bury or dump your waste on your farm. These new Regulations bring the agricultural industry under the controls of our national waste legislation and in line with other industrial and commercial sectors.
Examples of waste that cannot be buried on-farm include:
- discarded pesticide containers
- plastics such as silage wrap, bags and sheets
- other: includes tyres; batteries; veterinary waste; old machinery; oil
There are three options available as an alternative to on-farm burial of most types of farm waste:
- send or take waste for disposal off-farm at licensed sites
- register a licensing exemption with the Environment Agency (EA) to recycle waste on-farm
- apply to the EA for a permit to continue on-farm disposal
Contact the EA by telephoning 0845 603 3113.
If you have traditionally buried your farm waste, you can find out how the new rules will affect your business by downloading the EA booklet, Waste - you can handle it (PDF document, 67K).
Fallen stock
Special rules apply to the majority of fallen livestock (dead animals). They cannot be buried (or burned) because it is prohibited under the Animal By-Products (Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002). To assist farmers comply with this, the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) was set up, in partnership with Government and the farming industry, to run a National Fallen Stock Scheme that would provide a reliable, low cost means of disposal of fallen stock.
The cost of collection of fallen stock under the Scheme is offset using Government funding – the Government will provide a contribution to these charges on a declining basis until November 2008. This contribution is currently set at 50%.
To register with the National Fallen Stock Scheme (NFSS), telephone 08450 548 888. Questions and answers relating to the NFSS can be found in Defra’s Fallen Stock Q&A pages.
Sending farm waste from your business to licensed landfill
When any business waste, including waste destined for landfill, is passed from one person to another, the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations will apply.
The person taking the waste must have a written description of it and a transfer note must be filled in and signed by both parties making the transfer. See Defra’s Waste – Duty of Care (PDF document, 216K). Free paper copies of this leaflet can also be ordered from Defra Publications, telephone 08459 556 000.
Landfill tax is paid by business and local authorities on top of landfill fees. The lower rate applies to inactive waste such as rocks and soil. The standard rate applies to other types of waste. The rates will vary from year to year - the Government has stated that the standard tax rate will increase gradually to reach a rate of £35 per tonne by 2010.
Receiving landfill waste from other businesses
If you plan to set up a landfill site which involves taking waste from other businesses you will need a pollution prevention and control permit. To apply for a permit, contact the EA on 08708 506506.
Details of your responsibilities relating to landfill waste are contained in Defra’s Waste Management, The Duty of Care, A Code of Practice (PDF document, 238K)
Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste poses particular risk to the environment and human health, so additional restrictions apply. A description of hazardous waste and the way it should be handled can be found in Defra’s hazardous waste section.
For further information or queries regarding hazardous waste you should contact the EA hazardous waste registration centre on 08708 502 858.
Guidance on landfill acceptance criteria is laid out in the EA’s Landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria.
Related links: External
- Environment Agency
- Netregs website – Regulation advice for businesses, including a Farm Waste Training Tool.
- National Fallen Stock Company
Further information:
Defra helpline – 0845 933 5577
Environment Agency customer contact centre – 08708 506 506
Environment Agency - agricultural waste help line 0845 603 3113
Environment Agency hazardous waste registration hotline – 08708 502 858
National Fallen Stock Company helpline – 08450 548 888
Page last modified: 1 October 2008
Page published: 1 July 2006