Waste Management in Agriculture – Using Incinerators to Improve Bio-Security

Incinerators have a key role to play in agricultural bio-security in which the at-source destruction of contaminated waste is an important part of the containment process.

Farms undertake standard bio-security measures such as careful cleaning and disinfecting of vehicles and premises. However, such measures alone may not be adequate in the case of an outbreak of disease.

Movement of livestock may have to be controlled and preventive steps would have to be taken to minimize the risk of humans being affected by animal diseases, including strategies for protecting visitors on open farms. On-site culling of contaminated livestock may be needed, and such animal remains can be incinerated by mobile incinerators to avoid the risk of transportation.

However, mobile incinerators would be subject to the same regulations as fixed incinerators at approved sites.

Bio-Security Measures

Good bio-security measures include incineration of used livestock bedding, soiled or old feed, used veterinary or farm equipment, and disposable clothing, as any of these could be a source of contamination.

Only an approved contractor should dispose the animal carcass in the case of a livestock death. The mode of disposal is usually through incineration, as burning or burying of fallen stock on farmland is prohibited.

Animal By-Products

Animal by-products (ABP) can also be safely disposed of by incineration. ABP constitutes animal parts, animal carcasses, or other materials originating from animals but unfit for human consumption. ABP can either be employed to make compost, biogas or other products or be destroyed.

For the safe disposal of category 1, 2 and 3 ABPs, incineration and co-incineration is suitable, since the process ensures complete destruction of the material at registered and approved sites such as those employing high or low capacity incinerators for this purpose.

ABPs, after incineration, can be dumped in landfills if they are fully destroyed with only ash as the remains, thereby avoiding adverse effects on bio-security. England and Wales permit ash from category 2 or category 3 pig and poultry ABPs to be employed on farmland, thus enabling ABPs themselves to be used to produce a useful product.

The UK sales team of Inciner8 along with the company’s DEFRA-approved animal incinerators can render help on bio-security during a disease outbreak.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Inciner8 Limited.

For more information on this source, please visit Inciner8 Limited.