Agriculture and Waste

Environment Agency Article:

-Introduction

Agriculture provides wildlife habitats, a well-loved landscape and a place for recreation but it also has some less desirable impacts on the environment.

The Environment Agency regulates farming through regimes such as Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) compliance, water abstraction licenses, discharge consents and farm waste regulations.

-What is Agricultural Waste?

Agricultural waste is any substance or object from premises used for agriculture or horticulture, which the holder discards, intends to discard or is required to discard. It is waste specifically generated by agricultural activities.

For example, waste which came from a farm shop or a vegetable packing plant would not be agricultural waste.

Some examples of agricultural waste are:

· empty pesticide containers;

· old silage wrap;

· out of date medicines and wormers;

· used tyres;

· Surplus milk.

Since 2006, agricultural waste has been subject to the same controls that have applied to other sectors for many years. On 15 May 2006, uncontrolled burning or tipping of waste on farms became illegal.

-Exemptions and Removals

Usually, any waste treatment, recovery or disposal activity needs to be carried out under an Environmental Permit. However, some low risk, small scale and less polluting activities may be exempt from permitting.

These activities are known as exemptions and need to be registered with the Environment Agency. Most farmers are carrying out activities which require exemptions to be registered. For example:

· burning plant material;

· using old tyres as silage clamps;

· Spreading off-specification or surplus milk on land.

Changes however, have been made since April 2010. Please click the link below for more information:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/32779.aspx

-Spreading Waste

An estimated 90 million tons of manure and slurry, between 3-4 million tons of sewage sludge and further 6-7 million tons of 'industrial wastes' like paper sludges, composts, and food processing wastes are applied to land each year. Some of these are 'waste' and some like sewage sludge and manure and slurry are not waste in the majority of cases.

Wastes can be spread on land for many reasons. For example, wastes like compost, digestate and food processing wastes can reduce the requirement for manufactured fertilisers. Other wastes can be used to improve the soil by increasing the organic matter content and the soil structure.

Although the use of waste on land can provide significant benefits, there can be severe consequences for the food chain, soil health, watercourses, and groundwater and to sensitive habitats and species if it is done incorrectly.

If you are using waste as a soil improver or fertiliser you must spread it either in accordance with a registered waste exemption or in accordance with an environmental permit.

For more information please follow the link below:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/130181.aspx

For advice on issues of Safety, Health, and Environment please visit us at:

she.ltd.uk