Using waste minimisation to save money Overview

1. Insert image here Using waste minimisation to save moneyOverview Insert image here Vikki Lutman Insert image here

3. Overview • 5 options for managing waste. • Must no longer use farm dump or tip unless licensed. • Can carry own waste but must be licensed to carry other peoples’. • There are opportunities to: - • Minimise waste and make savings • Use waste minimisation to make money

4. Waste Minimisation Waste Minimisation – Saving Money • Farm Case Studies Waste Minimisation – Business Opportunities • Diversification opportunities

5. Principles of Waste Minimisation

7. Arable Farm • 260 ha: growing crops from wheat, barley, oil seed rape, legumes. • Imports muck from nearby farm, using a contractor to spread.

8. Pesticide containers Pesticide washings Fertiliser plastic Plastic mulch Seed bags Crop residues Office waste Oil and filters Batteries Tyres Hedge trimmings Building waste Scrap metal Main Wastes Produced

9. Arable Farm Review • Review current practice • Pesticide policy; application rate & timing; calibration of your sprayer • Nutrient policy; application rate & timing; is land in NVZ, handle / store fertiliser • Plastic crop covers – type of sheets; plastic re usable; how is plastic disposed of • Crop produce & waste - new production & packaging techniques

11. ** A Groundwater authorisation is required before pesticide washings can be spread to land Waste Management Options - Regulation

12. Waste Management Options – Regulation Continued

13. Principles of Waste Minimisation – Saving Money by Reducing Waste • Review Current Practice • Avoid Waste • Reduce Waste • Reuse Waste • Recycle Waste • Take Action

14. Potential Money Savings • Pesticides – rate and timing; use of other cultural or biological control methods; better target pesticides • Fertilisers– reduce waste during storage; nutrient management planning; improve calibration of spreader/sprayer. • Plastic crop covers - alternative systems; machine settings; reuse sheet • Crop and Produce waste – staff training; store management

16. Principles of Waste Minimisation

17. Lowland Livestock Farm • Mixed livestock: 600 ewes, 80 suckler cows • 200ha • In NVZ • Makes baled silage

18. Silage plastic Silage wrap core Bale twine & netting Fertiliser plastic Feed bags Animal health product packaging Veterinary waste Office waste Used sheep dip Oil and filters Batteries Carcasses Building waste Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and slurry Scrap metal Main Wastes Produced

19. Livestock Review • Silage Plastic – storage of waste plastic; density of bales; protection methods • Feed waste –storage of feed, where is the feeding done? • Use of Sheep dip – timing of dip, system and operation • Veterinary Products – sharps container; health policies • Carcasses – policy for casualty slaughter; incinerator

20. Silage PlasticStorage Undercover v Outside

21. Waste Management Options - Regulation

22. Waste Management Options - Regulation Continued ** A Groundwater authorisation is required before pesticide washings can be spread to land

23. Principles of Waste Minimisation – Saving Money by Reducing Waste • Review Current Practice • Avoid Waste • Reduce Waste • Reuse Waste • Recycle Waste • Take Action

24. Potential Money Savings • Silage Plastic – film rolls; maximise dry matter conserved per unit of film; deeper silage clamps • Feed Management – feed storage; modify manger/replace old feeders; spread waste feed. • Sheep Dip – reduce frequency; redesign dipping bath • Veterinary Products – improve aspects of livestock environmental control; isolation facilities; weigh animals before dosing • Carcasses – injury prevention, improve carcass removal; national fallen stock scheme.

25. Principles of Waste Minimisation

26. Office Waste • Office waste is subject to the Regulations and therefore must be disposed of responsibly. • Hazardous wastes (e.g. cleaning materials, correction fluid, thinners, inks) require the use of the consignment note system. • Non-hazardous, controlled wastes (e.g. paper, plastic) require the use of the transfer note system. • Electrical equipment should be taken back to the supplier for disposal.

27. General Farm Waste Review • Scrap Metals – replacement policy; service & maintenance • Fuel oil and lubricants – tank metres; thermostats; • Tyres – policy for waste tyres (recycle; send back with fitter; reuse) • Packaging (except pesticide and fertiliser) – storage; is disposal a problem.

28. Potential Money Savings • Scrap Metals – authorised scrap merchant; sell for spare parts; • Fuel oil and lubricants – avoid crop drying; better insulation; re-circulate warm air • Tyres – avoid keeping used tyres; remoulding / re-treading of tyres • Packaging – bulk delivery; better purchase planning; recycling

29. Optimising Use of Inputs • Electricity – Do you monitor energy use? • Clean Water – Irrigation; re-use water • Nutrients from manures and silage effluent – Manure Management Plan (NVZ); run-off of dirty water; Nutrient Management Planning.

30. Waste Management Inventory

31. Waste Minimisation Waste Minimisation – Saving Money • Farm Case Studies Waste Minimisation – Business Opportunities • Diversification opportunities

32. Opportunities for Diversification • Carrying/transporting waste • Waste transfer stations • Composting • Incineration

33. Waste Carrier • Farmers will not need to register as a waste carrier to be able to carry their own waste to a licensed site for recovery or disposal. • If farmers want to carry other peoples’ waste to a licensed site, then they must register as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency. • There will be a 6 month transitional period for people wanting to register as a carrier.

34. Types of Waste Carrier • Professional Carrier - A waste carrier who carries only agricultural waste will have to be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency, this is free of charge. For example, farm plastic recycling schemes. • Registered Carrier - A waste carrier who has registered to carry all controlled wastes and holds a waste carriers licence. This costs £136 for three years with renewal fee of £93.

35. Waste Carrier • A registration form for a Registered Carrier can be downloaded from the internet: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/ • Or contact the Environment Agency through their enquiries line: 0845 603 3113

36. Waste Transfer Stations “A waste management facility to which waste is delivered for separation or bulking up before being removed for recovery or landfill.” Diversification example: A farmer acts as a collection point for his neighbours’ waste silage plastic. The plastic is brought onto the farm by the producer and is sorted, baled and stored for a maximum of 12 months prior to collection by a recycler.

37. Waste Transfer Stations Waste Management Licensing In order to operate a waste transfer station, the operator must either: • Apply for a Waste Management Licence from the Environment Agency, or • Register for an exemption from a Waste Management Licence from the Environment Agency Various requirements for the handling of waste need to be met.

38. Waste Transfer Stations Waste Management Licensing Exemptions • It is likely that the diversification activities carried out on a farm will be exempt from the Waste Management Licensing Regulations requirements. • In the example given, providing that no more than 500 tonnes of plastic is stored at any one time and that it is sent for recovery/recycling, exemption 17 will apply. Refer to the Waste Management Regulations 1994 (SI no. 1056) for a full list and explanation of exemptions. Further information can be found at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waste

39. Waste Transfer Stations Other Considerations: • Locality and access. Is there a sufficient source of waste in the area? Is the access to the site good enough for delivery of the waste and collection of bulked up waste? • Will the wastes to be dealt with vary in availability with the seasons, e.g. waste silage plastic production tends to peak at the end of winter. • Capital costs: Equipment such as a baler or compactor will require some investment.

40. Composting • Opportunities exist for farmers wishing to diversify into composting. • Providing that no more than 1000 cubic metres of material is being treated or stored at any time, farmers can register for an exemption from the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. • If more than 1000 cubic metres of material is being treated or stored at any time, a Waste Management Licence is required from the Environment Agency, and charges will apply.

41. Composting The proposed exemption for sites includes: • Certain types of waste to be composted require different levels of design, e.g. green waste could be open air windrow turned without impermeable pavement or sealed drainage, however animal bedding waste would need to be composted on an impermeable and sealed drainage system. • Specific information on the composting process is required by the Environment Agency before awarding the exemption

42. Composting • Other considerations: • The more difficult the material, the higher the gate fee for composting the material. • A significant investment will be needed in order to set up a viable composting business (particularly if handling the more difficult wastes). • Consider the local area: sources of compostable material, sensitive receptors to the operation, planning requirements. • Destination of the compost: spread to land (sufficient land bank), sell material off site (high enough quality?). • Consider large scale operation - obtain a Waste Management Licence and compost in the region of 10,000 tonnes/annum to justify the capital costs.

43. Incineration • Farmers may install incineration facilities for their own and other farmer’s wastes • This may come under the PPC Regulations • Information and application forms are available from the Environment Agency • The costs for registration and licensing are likely to be substantial but will depend on the type and amount of waste being incinerated

44. Further Help

45. Defra Publication The Waste Minimisation Manual PB4819 Defra Publications 08459 556000 www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/agwaste/reduce-waste.pdf

46. Recycling Opportunities • Currently somewhat limited, but it is a rapidly evolving industry • A number of schemes able to take polyethylene and some take polypropylene • Scrap metal • Waste oil • Waste paper & cardboard • Pallets • Consider use of take back schemes • Waste Recycling Directory www.wasterecycling.org.uk(national) • Other websites i.e. www.egeneration.co.uk(local/regional) www.wastepoint.co.uk(national)

47. Maximise Recycling Opportunities • Segregate waste by type e.g. plastics, metals, etc • Sub segregate each waste type e.g. plastics into polyethylene, polypropylene, etc • Store securely and protect from potential contaminants • Give consideration to the cleanliness of the ‘waste’

48. Summary of the Benefits of Waste Minimisation • Reduction in wasted resource….....and costs • Reduction in landfill space…………and disposal costs • Reduction in pollution potential • Improved image/competitiveness • Legislative compliance Waste minimisation works “Saved costs of waste go straight to the bottom line”

49. Finding a home for waste • Find a recycler • Use the EA’s Waste Recycling Directory www.wasterecycling.org.uk • Use other local and national websites www.wastepoint.co.uk(national) www.egeneration.co.uk(local/regional) • Take to the recycler/tip… segregation, access issues…. • Set up a recycling or collection business