| Author (Person) | Mallinder, Lorraine |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | 08.11.07 |
| Publication Date | 08/11/2007 |
| Content Type | News |
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Farm waste accounts for nearly a fifth of total EU waste. It can include organic matter such as manure and compost, but can also cover man-made items such as packaging, batteries and machinery. This waste can have a detrimental effect on the environment. Fertilisers containing nitrogen and phosphorus pollute rivers and lakes, leading to the growth of plants that starve fish and vegetation of oxygen. Emissions of ammonia and methane from manure contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Many EU rules on managing agricultural waste fall under the 1999 landfill directive. From 30 October this year, landfills can no longer accept untreated waste - including agricultural waste. This means strict controls for practices such as burying and burning. With the exception of vegetation and untreated wood, all farm waste must now be disposed of by a registered contractor. The waste framework directive, both in its existing 1975 form and in the modified version that the Commission is proposing as part of its review, exempts animal faeces, straw and "other natural non-hazardous substances from agricultural production" used on the farm or for biomass production. Manure can be used to produce ‘biogas’, now an accepted standard for vehicles in Sweden, fuelling several fleets of public transport. It can also be burned directly for cooking, heating and lighting. Five years ago, governments adopted new rules on the use of animal by-products for biogas production or composting. The ‘animal by-products’ regulation followed the outbreak of animal diseases including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever, all of which had led to dead animals being burnt on open land, and raised fears about contamination of the food chain. The 2002 regulation set up new rules for the treatment and disposal of animal carcasses and other contaminated by-products. It also introduces an identification and traceability system for meat products, including those from healthy animals. Farm waste accounts for nearly a fifth of total EU waste. It can include organic matter such as manure and compost, but can also cover man-made items such as packaging, batteries and machinery. |
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| Source Link | http://www.europeanvoice.com |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe |
