Animal bedding

Some FHE institutions may undertake activities that can be classed as 'Agricultural'

The definition of agriculture includes “livestock breeding and keeping” and “the use of land as grazing land”; while the definition of livestock includes “any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land.”

This definition does not include the majority of work that is for research or animal treatment but may include a working model farm used for student teaching.

Animal bedding or similar waste that is not contaminated with gut contents may be Agricultural waste and would not currently be subject to the Controlled Waste Regulations in England and Wales.

In Scotland, Agricultural waste now falls within the scope of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 following the introduction of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2005 and is therefore subject to controls placed on other waste. Following this Agricultural waste has become Controlled waste and is now categorised as Commercial waste
Animal bedding waste that is produced from any non-agricultural facility in a University or College will be Controlled waste and also Directive waste.

Bedding that is Controlled/Directive waste, is not contaminated with gut content and is not clinical, hazardous, radioactive, GMO or animal pathogen contaminated can be treated as any other Controlled waste.

If the waste is contaminated with gut content then it is classified as Category 2 material under Animal By-products legislation and is likely to require incineration in a suitably licensed facility. If the competent authority does not consider it to pose a risk of spreading any 'serious transmissible disease' then it can be used as raw material in a biogas or composting plant or applied to land (there are restrictions to this)

In addition you must determine if the waste:

is Clinical (does it pose a risk to persons because it is hazardous or infectious)
Defra
NETREGS

is Hazardous/Special (any number of reasons for this including harmful to the environment or because of the presence of some other hazardous material that may make the waste Special/Hazardous waste)
Defra

is Radioactive (not Controlled waste)
Defra
Scottish Executive advice

contains GMOs
Health and Safety Executive

contains specified animal pathogens. The disposal mechanism will depend on the particular pathogen or any combination of these.

The precise method and route of disposal will depend on these determinations and it may be difficult to find an incinerator that is licensed to take material that falls under multiple classifications so contact the regulator for advice.

When disposing of this material you must comply with all Duty of Care requirements that apply to Controlled/Directive waste including the use of transfer notes/consignment notes. Depending on the contaminations within the waste stream some waste may require additional de-activation prior to transport to an incinerator e.g. GMOs).

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Animal bedding

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