The study, Towards Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management, has been prepared in anticipation of waste management legislation, which will be applied to the farming community to bring it in line with other sectors of industry, as required under the EC Waste Framework Directive. Proposals for extending the Directive to farms in the UK are expected from the Government in the near future. These proposals are needed because traditionally, the agricultural community has not been subject to waste management controls because its waste has been excluded from the definition of “controlled waste”. Now, the government faces legal proceedings for failing to apply the requirements of the EC Waste Framework Directive to agricultural waste. So, the Government intends to amend UK legislation, bringing agricultural waste within the definition of “controlled waste”.
The agricultural industry produces a range of wastes including, packaging, plastic films, animal health products, machinery and building waste; which amounts to an estimated total of 0.5million tonnes per year. Current waste practices include on-farm burning, burial, stockpiling, and use of household waste collection services.
Directive
The purpose of the Directive is to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of in ways that protect the environment and human health. Implementation of the Directive will affect all of the UK's farming community.
Among a series of recommendations, the report suggests creating a National Stakeholder Forum, a proposal that the Government and the Agency are now currently discussing to determine the best way forward.
Other key proposals in the report include: the development of a national agriculture waste strategy, applicable to farms of all sizes and types; establishing a code of practice covering on-farm options for waste management; research into practical cost-effective arrangements for waste collection; and an emphasis on waste reduction through improved product design and farming practices.
Agency view
Steve Lee, Head of Waste Policy at the Environment Agency, said:
“We want to work with farmers and other key stakeholders to implement the forthcoming agricultural waste controls in a sensible and proportionate way so that the environment is protected and farmers can still run their businesses effectively.
“Through advice and encouragement, we will help farm businesses minimise their waste, save money and protect and enhance the environment. We see the publication of the research report and the development of a stakeholder forum as key elements to help us achieve this.”
Michael Paske, Vice-President of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said:
“The NFU is very concerned about the further pressure the forthcoming waste management legislative proposals will have on agricultural and horticultural businesses. All concerned with these regulations must strive to ensure that where controls are necessary, they are proportionate to the risks. We see our role as helping to find realistic and least-cost solutions to the problem of agricultural waste and we seek to play an active part in the National Agricultural Waste Stakeholder Forum.”
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