New disposal methods for abattoir waste
New disposal methods for abattoir waste
INDUSTRY is looking at new methods to dispose of up to 1.3m tonnes of abattoir waste in the light of governments decision this week to restrict dumping in landfill sites, with a complete ban from early next year.
Because renderers are now increasing charges for raw waste disposal, following governments decision to axe the rendering subsidy, ministers are concerned that abattoirs may attempt to dispose of large amounts of waste through landfill.
Although seen by the previous government as a realistic alternative to rendering, the Labour administration is concerned about the long-term environmental effects of dumping raw waste in landfill.
Martin Grantley-Smith, MLC strategic planning manager, said the decision by EU member states to ban specified risk materials would mean that waste disposal was likely to become a Europe-wide problem.
As a result, the MLC was seeking European cash for further research into alternatives to rendering.
The Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers said the abattoir industry would, in the long term, prefer to see waste material rendered rather than placed in landfill sites.n