Environment Agency confirms poisoned rodents do not fall under by-product waste regulation

The tricky tale of what to do with rat carcasses has now been resolved.

The Environment Agency confirms that rodents killed by poisoning do NOT fall under the Animal By-products regulation, unless they are suspected of having a disease that is communicable to humans or animals.

Dead rats and unused bait should be treated fall into the Waste Framework Directive and, therefore, should be treated as controlled waste.

So the carcasses or bait should be packaged up carefully and sent to a recognised disposal landfill or disposal facility. That action has to be documented with an appropriate consignment note, according to DEFRA guidelines.

Find out more from Defra or the Environment agency.