Farming

Farming

Minimising waste

It is important that farm waste is kept to a minimum because of the risk of pollution and the need to reduce the amount of waste being buried in landfill sites. In addition, it will help reduce the cost of dealing with waste as new regulations prevent burying, burning and the use of farm tips to dispose of most types of farm waste from 15 May 2006 onwards.

There are two types of farm waste, general farm waste and animal waste.

General farm waste includes:

  • unwanted vehicles and machinery parts - tyres, batteries, metals
  • animal health products - swabs, sheep dip
  • building waste - plasterboard, gypsum
  • cardboard and paper - packaging, seed bags
  • plastics - baler twine, silage wrap
  • hazardous waste - fluorescent light bulbs

Animal waste does not generally include manures and slurries when used as a soil fertiliser.

Waste regulations

From 15 May 2006, new controls were introduced to agricultural waste.

The Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations implement European Union Directives which already apply to other industrial and commercial sectors.

Under the new Regulations you will have five options to consider for dealing with waste:

  • store waste on the farm for up to 12 months
  • take your waste for recycling or disposal at a licensed site
  • get an authorised waste contractor to take the waste away
  • register for licence exemptions with the Environment Agency (EA) to recycle or dispose of waste on-farm
  • apply to the EA for a waste management licence or a landfill permit to recycle or dispose of waste on-farm - obtaining a landfill permit is unlikely to be a viable option because of the engineering requirements and costs involved

Download the EA summary Waste – you can handle it (PDF document, 67K) to find out how the new rules on agricultural waste will affect your farm business.
Suggestions for minimising waste:

  • review current systems to find out whether waste production can be avoided by a change in management practice
  • see if waste can be reused for another process
  • find out if local recycling centres can reuse your waste products
  • compile a list of potential improvements

Waste Recycling Directory

The Waste Recycling Directory is an online service where you can enter your postcode to find contact details for local waste recycling centres.

General farm waste

Cutting down on farm waste levels will reduce the need for disposal. Advice and tips are available in a waste minimisation manual issued by Defra titled Saving money by reducing waste - Waste minimisation manual: a practical guide for farmers and growers (725 KB).

A paper version can be ordered (free of charge) from Defra publications, telephone 0845 955 6000.

Animal waste

Animal manures and slurries are not considered to be waste when they are used as soil fertiliser. If they are used in this way, it will reduce the amount of animal waste you need to deal with.

Defra’s Environment Sensitive Farming factsheet (PDF document, 67K) offers a practical guide to manure management. It explains the value of manures and highlights the importance of correctly calibrating spreading equipment to prevent waste and reduce pollution.

Defra has funded a research project called MANNER, which has produced a CD-ROM to help you make the most of manure nitrogen. The MANNER CD can be ordered (free of charge) by telephoning the ADAS Gleadthorpe Research Centre on 01623 844 331. You can also be order it online on the ADAS website.

Arable land

Making Better Use of Livestock Manures on Arable Land, (PDF document, 2.07MB) explains nutrient losses and shows how to use fertilisers and manures together. It also offers practical tips and outlines the financial benefits. A paper version of the booklet can be ordered (free of charge) from ADAS Gleadthorpe, telephone 01623 844 331.

Grassland

Making Better Use of Manures on Grassland, (PDF document, 2.07MB) gives advice on using manures on grazing and silage land, as well as forage crops.

It recommends monitoring the nutrient content of applied manures, spreading in spring to avoid nitrate leaching losses and applying manure evenly at a known rate.

A paper version is also available (free of charge) from ADAS Gleadthorpe, telephone 01623 844 331.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)

A number of areas around the country have been identified as NVZs. These are places which are particularly vulnerable to pollution caused by spreading animal waste on the land.

Farmers and land managers in NVZs are encouraged to use manures and slurries which are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients to reduce the rate of chemical nitrogen fertilisers applied. However, there are restrictions on the amount and the timing of application. Guidelines and further contacts for farms within NVZs are available at on Defra’s NVZ pages.

A booklet, Manure planning in NVZs (England) can be ordered (free of charge) from Defra publications, telephone 0845 955 6000, quoting reference PB 5504.

Useful links

Defra

External

Further information

Defra helpline – 0845 933 5577 (local call rate)

Environment Agency Agricultural Waste help line – 0845 603 3113

Page last modified: 1 October 2008
Page published: 1 July 2006

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs