Landspreading: benefits and risks of the waste types you can use

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Jun 10, 2024

Landspreading: benefits and risks of the waste types you can use

02 wastes are from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing, food preparation and processing. Your permit lists the 02 waste codes you can use. You must follow the

02 wastes are from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing, food preparation and processing. Your permit lists the 02 waste codes you can use. You must follow the guidance given in the Before you start section.

Your permit lists the 02 waste codes you can use.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance on how to manage pests and diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for 20 02 01 Plant tissue waste from parks only.

You must follow the guidance on how to manage pests and diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

Manure and slurry produced in agriculture are not waste when used as a fertiliser. Therefore, you do not need an environmental permit or waste exemption to store and spread it onto agricultural land. This includes when it is used by agricultural premises that did not produce the manure and slurry.

Waste code 02 01 06 is manure and slurry that is not produced in agriculture. Examples of non-agricultural premises are:

02 01 06 also applies to manure and slurry intended for spreading on non-agricultural land.

This waste consists of livestock excreta mixed with bedding materials. These are plant tissue based crop residue materials such as straw and woodchip.

For non-plant tissue bedding such as gypsum use waste code 02 01 99 Slurry and manure and soiled bedding from any premises except abattoirs, soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue, soiled bedding desiccants only.

This material is typically a stackable waste. See the stackable or non-stackable guidance under section B2 in form LPD1 guidance.

Consider these benefits, it:

Consider these risks and how you can prevent them. They can cause:

You must not:

To manage the risks see:

Animal bedding wastes are often used with straw on bedded yards or pens to reduce straw use. It may also be used in systems such as cattle cubicles, stalls or corrals.

Agricultural manure and slurry mixed with non-waste bedding materials such as straw are category 2 animal by-products and are controlled by the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations. To use these agricultural manures and slurries follow the guidance on how to use, store or move manure, guano and digestive tract content.

You must also follow the guidance on animal health and notifiable diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

For abattoir waste, see 02 02 99 Slurry and manure and soiled bedding from abattoirs including soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue and soiled bedding desiccants only.

Manures may contain other wastes used for bedding such as:

Landspreading soiled bedding containing waste bedding materials must meet environmental controls under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. They need to be made suitable for landspreading. You must not treat waste under the mobile plant for landspreading standard rules permits and deployment.

If you want to treat the waste then you may be able to use a suitable waste permit or exemption such as the T23 Aerobic composting and associated prior treatment exemption.

You can then usually landspread this waste using the U10 waste exemption.

You must be able to meet all the conditions and register these exemptions.

This allows you to spread specific waste on agricultural land to replace manufactured fertilisers or virgin materials (such as lime) to improve or maintain soil.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 05 01 Biodegradable materials unsuitable for consumption or processing.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 03 01 Sludges from washing, cleaning, peeling, centrifuging and separation.

You must also follow the guidance on how to manage pests and diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

You can use these wastes if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 01 06 Farmyard manure and slurry, horse manure and soiled bedding made from plant tissue only.

For abattoir waste see 02 02 99 Slurry and manure and soiled bedding from abattoirs including soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue and soiled bedding desiccants only.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

Spent mushroom compost can be made up of materials like chopped straw, poultry and other farm manures including horse manure and ground chalk. Some spent mushroom compost may also contain added gypsum.

Spent mushroom compost may contain the lower layers of compost from the growing beds and the casing material. The casing typically consists of peat soil or an alternative material, such as:

Water and calcium carbonate are added to the casing to neutralise pH and give a moisture content of about 80%. De-inked paper fibre pellets do not require this pH adjustment.

Consider these benefits. It:

Consider these risks. There may be chemical and physical contaminants present, depending on how the compost was produced. It can include:

02 02 wastes are from the preparation and processing of meat, fish and other foods of animal origin.

These wastes are odorous. Therefore, it is likely that you will need to produce a site specific odour management plan. You can adopt these general measures.

You can manage odorous wastes by keeping how much you store to a minimum. For example, by receiving daily deliveries and using it that day.

You should fit storage tanks with lockable valves and secondary containment unless you have other measures in place to prevent leakage or spillage.

To avoid odour, in most circumstances, you should as soon as is practicable:

For grass leys, forage crops and permanent pasture you must inject the waste into the soil. Do not surface spread on grassland. After injecting on grassland, wait a minimum of 3 weeks before you use the land for grazing or cutting.

For arable land, including forage maize:

Injecting into the soil reduces odour and increases nutrient availability and uptake.

For the waste you want to spread you must consider the statutory guidance Food and drink waste hierarchy: deal with surplus and waste.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must also follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description: 02 02 02 Blood and gut contents from abattoirs, poultry preparation plants, rendering plant or fish preparation plants only. State in your application form if it is blood or gut content.

The following information applies to this waste:

You must also follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

Abattoirs and poultry preparation plants produce waste blood in large quantities. You can apply blood to land as a source of nutrients, especially nitrogen.

Consider these benefits:

Consider these risks:

The waste producer must treat blood following the animal by-products regulations before you can apply it to land. They will need to follow guidance for the animal by-product industry. You must make sure this has been done.

You must:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

The slaughter industry produces waste gut contents. This consists predominantly of partially-digested feed or vegetable matter. Make sure that all boluses found in gut contents have been removed at the abattoir before landspreading.

A benefit is that gut contents contain high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Typically:

Consider these risks:

The best place to store gut contents is at the site where it is produced. If this is not possible, consider the potential for:

You will need to:

The following information applies to this waste:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 02 99 Processed animal by-product material from rendering plants.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 02 99 Processed animal by-product material from rendering plants.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 02 99 Processed animal by-product material from rendering plants.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for 16 10 02 Wash waters from animal by-product intermediate plants that meet the waste water treatment requirements in the Animal By-Products Regulations.

You must make sure that any animal by-product waste has had the correct treatment and is suitable for landspreading. You must see animal by-products in Landspreading: how to comply with your permit.

Effluent treatment plant waste undergoes various degrees of biological treatment depending on the type of system in place. Biological treatment of food waste can result in the partial conversion of plant nutrients from an organic to an inorganic form. Much of the remaining nitrogen occurs in readily degradable bacterial floc.

Consider these benefits:

Consider these risks:

Consider these benefits:

Consider these risks. It can:

For sludge from biological treatment plants at meat and fish processing plants, you will need to base your application rates on both the plant nutrient content and the fat content of the waste.

Consider the following:

Injecting fatty waste can help to reduce odour. You must make sure any fatty material is thoroughly mixed through the soil profile during field operations. After applying to agricultural grassland, leave an interval of at least 3 weeks before using the grass for grazing or cutting.

You must also follow the guidance on how to manage oil and fat trap wastes in Landspreading: how to manage soil health, if applicable.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for

If you plan to spread processed animal protein you must follow the Animal By Products Regulations. See:

Processed animal protein contains useful amounts of total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and other trace elements. It also contributes organic matter to the soil.

Nutrient availability is linked to how fine the material is. Finer ground materials are quicker releasing and have higher availabilities.

This waste contains useful levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, typically:

It may also contain traces of magnesium, sulphur, boron and selenium

Consider these risks. It can:

Incorporate this waste within 24 hours or sooner. You must not spread it on grassland where:

You must:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 02 99 Processed animal by-product material from rendering plants.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

It includes lairage waste.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description: 02 02 99 Slurry and manure and soiled bedding from abattoirs including soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue and soiled bedding desiccants only. State in your application if it is lairage waste.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for

You must also follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

Lairage is a place in the abattoir where livestock are kept before slaughter. The term also applies to the facilities at auction markets and includes:

Lairage waste must not contain anything other than livestock excreta and bedding materials, it is essentially farmyard manure.

Lairage waste is a category 2 animal by-product. You must see animal by-products in Landspreading: how to comply with your permit.

You must also follow the guidance for iodine in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

Consider these benefits, it:

Consider these risks:

You must consider if you will be allowed to apply this waste during notifiable animal disease outbreaks to prevent disease transmission. You must follow the guidance for animal health and notifiable diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

The following information applies to this waste:

For this waste you must follow the information for 16 10 02 wash waters from animal by-product intermediate plants that meet the waste water treatment requirements in the Animal By Products Regulations.

Wash waters often contain small amounts of blood but typically do not require treatment. They may also contain treatment chemicals to comply with Animal By Products Regulations controls such as iodine.

You must follow the guidance for iodine in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

To minimise the risks to animal and human health you must apply this waste to land by either:

02 03 wastes are from fruit, vegetables, cereals, edible oils, cocoa, coffee, tea and tobacco preparation and processing; conserve production; yeast and yeast extract production, molasses preparation and fermentation.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

You must follow the guidance on how to manage pests and diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

The waste can consist of vegetable matter, soil and wash waters. Nutrient contents are highly variable due to the many potential sources of these wastes. The wastes are often liquid, with a solids content of approximately 1%.

Consider these benefits:

Consider these risks:

These and other wastes liable to decay could cause odour pollution.

You must follow the information given in rule 3.3: odour in Landspreading: how to comply with your permit.

You must take care if landspreading wastes that are low in dry matter, such as process waters, at high rates and when soil conditions are not suitable. For example, during dry weather when the soil is cracked and fissured or after prolonged wet periods when the soil is saturated.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B. It includes waste from vegetable preparation and processing.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description: 02 03 01 Sludges from washing, cleaning, peeling, centrifuging and separation. State if it is vegetable preparation and processing.

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 03 01 Sludges from washing, cleaning, peeling, centrifuging and separation.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

An example of solvent use is in decaffeinated coffee production.

You must describe these wastes correctly in your benefit statement. You will need to state which method was used to decaffeinate. Here are some of the methods used.

Green coffee is immersed in water where the caffeine content is dissolved and removed. The caffeine is removed from the solution using activated carbon or other adsorbents, which keep the caffeine, and the water can then be recycled.

Ethyl acetate occurs in several natural products. A combination of water and ethyl-acetate is used to decaffeinate. The ethyl acetate is circulated around the water soaked beans to extract the caffeine. Then the mixture of water, ethyl acetate and caffeine is drained from the extracting vessel.

Under certain conditions this process allows for selective caffeine extraction leaving most of the other coffee bean constituents unaltered. The use of carbon dioxide in its supercritical state (between its liquid and gaseous state) needs very high pressure up to about 25 MPa. Liquid carbon dioxide can also be used for caffeine extraction with lower pressure and lower temperatures.

DCM extracts the caffeine selectively and has a low boiling point. In the extracting vessel, DCM is circulated around the water soaked beans to extract the caffeine. The mixture of DCM and caffeine is then drained from the extracting vessel. The DCM can then be recovered.

You will need to consider these solvents:

These solvents exhibit a range of toxicity, flammability and volatility. They present an accident risk and are a source of volatile organic carbon emissions.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B. It includes sludges from onsite effluent treatment plants of food and drink waste.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description: 02 03 05 Sludges from on-site effluent treatment. State that the waste sludges from onsite effluent treatment plants of food and drink waste.

You must follow the guidance given in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You must also follow the information for:

Digestate from anaerobic and aerobic digestion is separated into solid and liquid fractions, in same way as cattle slurry can be separated. This gives flexibility because the volume of liquid is reduced and it removes the need to mix before spreading.

Mesophilic and thermophilic digestion processes are used to destroy most viruses and pathogens found in livestock manures. Animal by-product related diseases such as Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Aujeskys Disease and Johnes Disease are destroyed or reduced. These processes also reduce plant pathogen levels and the viability of weed seeds.

Consider these benefits:

Consider these risks:

To reduce the risk of odour, you can:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

02 04 wastes are from sugar processing.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2A.

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 01 01 Soils and sludges from washing and cleaning fruit and vegetables only.

You must also follow the guidance on how to manage pests and diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

You may apply soils from sugar beet washing at a rate of 1,500 t/ha. However, consider if you need to restrict the amount you apply so that you do not exceed the maximum allowed plant nutrient loading.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

It includes the waste lime sugar sludge. In your deployment application use the waste code and description 02 04 02 Off-specification calcium carbonate. State if it is lime sugar sludge.

You must follow the guidance on how to manage pests and diseases in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

Lime sugar sludge waste comes from processing sugar cane and sugar beet. It usually contains large quantities of lime, mainly calcium and magnesium carbonate with an amount of calcium hydroxide. The pH is generally around 7.5 and the neutralising value of the sludge is in the range of 10 to 20% in solid waste but will vary with moisture content.

You must base the liming benefit on the specific neutralising value of the waste.

Consider these benefits, it can:

Applying too much lime to some soils and crop can cause a deficiency of trace elements, in a similar way to using agricultural lime.

For more detailed information see manage soil pH in Landspreading: how to manage soil health.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

02 05 wastes are from the dairy products industry.

Dairy wastes produced on site and stored in silos may provide an environment for bacteria to increase. This may:

You must follow the guidance given in rule 3.3: odour in Landspreading: how to comply with your permit.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

It includes waste milk.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description: 02 05 01 Biodegradable materials unsuitable for consumption or processing. State if it waste milk.

Follow the information given for:

You must follow the guidance in Landspreading: how to manage soil health for how to manage:

If you can meet all of the conditions then you can use the U10 waste exemption: spreading waste to benefit agricultural land to spread waste milk from your agricultural premises onto agricultural land. Once you move milk off the farm or the dairy it came from, the animal by-products regulations apply. See animal by-products in Landspreading: how to comply with your permit.

Under the U10 waste exemption, you must dilute milk with an equal amount (or more) of water or slurry before you spread it.

Note that if you mix slurry with milk in enclosed spaces you increase the risk of lethal or explosive gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide.

For further guidance see how to dispose of milk from your farm or dairy.

You may need to spread waste milk to land because of bad weather, disease restrictions or other circumstances. Follow the guidance preventing agricultural pollution in exceptional circumstances.

You can spread waste milk to land that can no longer be used for processing or consumption.

Consider these benefits, milk:

Consider these risks, milk can:

You may have to dilute the milk before you spread it because it has a high biological oxygen demand. You can dilute waste milk from processing plants with wash waters from the plant.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You must follow the guidance given for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

Follow the information given for:

02 06 wastes are from the baking and confectionery industry.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must follow the information for 02 03 05 Sludges from on-site effluent treatment.

02 07 wastes are from the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except coffee, tea and cocoa).

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

This waste code relates to the brewing and soft drinks industry.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description 02 07 01 Wastes from washing, cleaning and mechanical reduction of raw materials. State if it is brewing and soft drink waste.

Also follow the information for waste from non-alcoholic drinks under 02 07 05 Sludges from on-site effluent treatment.

The brewing and soft drinks industry produce large quantities of water that contain residues of either carbohydrates or alcohol. If left, over time, carbohydrate and alcohol solutions degrade to produce weak organic acids. The acids are weak in the sense that they are poorly buffered and easily neutralised. However, they can greatly affect the pH of the solution. Solutions at pH 7.0 can easily degrade to as low as pH 2.0 if left for 24 hours.

The waste comes from washing or other processes that create weak effluents. Although weak in an agricultural sense, these effluents are usually very high in biological oxygen demand (up to 40,000mg/l) and so are expensive to discharge to sewer.

Wastes with a high biological oxygen demand can cause pollution if they enter surface waters through run-off or land drainage.

There is usually a low nutrient content in waste beer and wash water.

Consider these benefits:

Consider these risks:

You must not apply this waste to land with a pH of less than 5.5.

The waste producer may need to consider pre-treatment to neutralise the acidity of the waste. They can do this by adding caustic soda or a similar alkali material before it is collected and landspread.

Consider the soil type and assess the potential risk. For example, there is a higher risk to non-calcareous sandy soils from this waste type.

Aim to use methods which place the waste on the soil in growing crops, instead of high trajectory methods.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

Distilleries produce large amounts of weak wash water with no yeast or Kieselguhr waste.

The pH of the waste can be low. You must not landspread where the soil is less than pH 5.5 unless the waste producer has added caustic soda or a similar alkali material to neutralise the waste.

If you propose to apply more than 110m3/ha effluents, the waste can give agricultural benefit as part of your irrigation plan. However, it is very weak in nutrients.

Copper is often found in this waste because the distillery industry has traditionally used copper vessels. The low pH can cause sludges to have significant levels of copper which can build up in the receiving soil.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

It includes Kieselguhr sludge.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description 02 07 03 Wastes from the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except coffee, tea and cocoa). State if it is kieselguhr sludge.

Kieselguhr is a clay mineral added to brewing liquors to clarify them. The brewing process produces waste sludge which can contain a large amount of yeast debris and other solid matter. It is usual for the waste producer to mix the sludge with weak wash waters because of the solid content and its thixotropic nature. This allows the material to be pumped, making it easier to handle.

Kieselguhr sludge gives agricultural benefit as it usually contains an ideal mix of plant nutrients, especially nitrogen. There is usually more than 2kg/m3 present.

You must know the pH of the waste before you store or landspread it. It may have a low pH value because kieselguhr sludge is often added to other waste liquors from the brewing process.

You must not:

You may be able to mix the waste for operational purposes only. For more details.

See:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

It includes the waste type trub and yeast waste.

In your deployment application use the waste code and description 02 07 04 Materials unsuitable for consumption or processing. State if it is trub and yeast waste.

Trub and yeast waste contains primary brewing materials and can be rich in brewers’ grains, malt and yeast debris. This waste is often:

Trub and yeast waste can contain large quantities of all the major plant nutrients, which can be beneficial.

You may need to manage odour from this waste. You must follow rule 3.3 odour in Landspreading: how to comply with your permit.

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

It includes the waste from non-alcoholic drink production.

On your deployment application use the waste code and description 02 07 05 Sludges from on-site effluent treatment. State if it is waste from non-alcoholic drinks.

Non-alcoholic drink manufacturers produce large volumes of wastes. They are low in solid content and very low in nutrients. They do have very high levels of soluble sugars. This can result in a high biological oxygen demand and a very low pH. The waste producer can neutralise pH by adding caustic soda or similar alkali material.

Pulps from mechanical juice extraction are often used in animal feeds or as feedstock in composting operations. Waste producers can treat the waste by aerobic or anaerobic digestion to reduce the biological oxygen demand.

Treated waste can produce a sludge containing plant nutrients that may have some beneficial use for agriculture or ecological improvement. This treatment produces a biological sludge with a nitrogen content which can provide some agricultural benefit or the means for ecological improvement.

Because sugars do not contain plant nutrients, you may not be able to justify using untreated waste as an agricultural benefit.

Applying it for irrigation purposes can give benefit.

Consider these risks:

You must not apply this waste to land with soils with a pH of less than 5.5. You can apply this waste if the producer has neutralised the acidity of the waste.

For this waste you must also follow the information for:

You can use this waste if you hold SR2010 No 4 – see table 2.2B.

For this waste you must also follow the information for: