Find out more about managing the waste you produce on your farm.
This page provides information on a wide variety of topics related to agricultural waste.
Duty of care
This guide is to help you manage your waste legally. It aims to give you a basic introduction to the Duty of Care and how you should handle your waste:
Hazardous waste
Practical advice on how farmers and growers can comply with the new rules on hazardous waste:
Biobeds
Guidance on what biobeds are and how to use them.
Please note: This guidance is currently being revised and updated following the changes made to the biobed exemption by the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010. Although the document is being revised, the information and guidance on the construction and maintenance of biobeds is still valid. This information can be found in sections 3 and 4 (pages 6-14). Find out more about the new biobed exemption.
Guidance for specific waste types
Using former foodstuffs from food and drink manufacture as animal feed
The Animal By-products Regulations have banned feeding farm animals with catering waste and wastes from catering premises. Defra have produced a short leaflet that explains what catering waste is, why it should not be fed to animals and how it should be disposed of:
Former foodstuffs from premises such as bakers, supermarkets, retail stores, crisp manufacturers and confectioners can be used for farm animal feed. Further information on what former food stuffs are suitable to be fed to animals can be found in Defra’s Animal By-products guidance.
If you are unsure whether a former foodstuff can be used as animal feed, you should seek advice from your local authority or the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) who enforce the Animal By-products Regulations.
Where former food stuffs are used directly as animal feed (for example, brewing grains, or molasses) they are not considered as waste provided they are suitable and do not require any further processing.
Saving money by reducing waste
Saving Money By Reducing Waste is a waste minimisation manual produced by Defra. It is a practical guide for farmers and growers. Copies of this document can be obtained free of charge from Defra Publications on 08459 556 000 quoting reference number PB11674.
