Agricultural waste
The new agricultural waste regulations affect whether or not you can burn, bury, store, use your waste on the farm or send it elsewhere.
The new agricultural waste regulations will start on the 15 May 2006. You need to stop using your farm tip/dump before the 15 May 2006. You should also stop burning plastics and other materials that give rise to pollution and/or harm by that date and remember your Duty of Care when storing or passing waste your someone else.You will have 12 months (until 15 May 2007) to comply with the new rules and to register for any waste exemptions. Find out more:
- New rules on burying and burning your waste
- What is waste? Do I produce it on my farm?
- Are manure and slurries waste?
- What shall I do with my waste when the new rules come in?
- Your Duty of Care - giving your waste to other people
- Agricultural waste reports and publications
Data link page to the latest reports and leaflets available relating to agricultural waste.
Minimise your waste
Of course it's much better not to produce waste in the first place and many farmers are already doing this. We've prepared some hints on minimising waste where it is produced and how to recycle. A short leaflet with 20 cost saving ideas is available free of charge by calling our National Customer Contact Centre agricultural waste helpline 0845 603 3113
Who developed the regulations?
Defra have developed the new regulations, however they took account of the views of the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders' Forum when drafting them. The Forum includes a number of groups including government, Environment Agency, the NFU, Country Land Business Association, Farmers' Union Wales and the supply sector. For more details visit the link 'Agricultural Forum'.
Further information
We have already released information to help farmers comply with the new rules ("Interim Guide", "Stop tipping, Stop Burning", "Duty of Care"). We are aiming to produce a Regulatory Timetable showing farmers when the various new controls will take effect (due in May). We will continue to publish guidance to help farmers get to grips and comply with the new controls.
