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Composting of Catering Waste and Animal By-Products
Since May 2001 the composting of catering waste, including household kitchen waste, has been banned by the Animal By-Products Order. Following the publication of a risk assessment, the Government has signalled the way forward for the composting of catering waste.
Background
The 2001 amendments (1) to the 1999 Animal By-Products Order (ABPO) prohibit the composting of catering waste containing meat, including household kitchen waste, and the spreading to land of the resulting product.
This situation has been a cause of concern to those promoting composting of household waste and WRc has recently carried out an assessment on behalf of DEFRA to determine the risks to animal health from the application to land of composted catering waste.
DEFRA Risk Assessment
DEFRA's Risk Assessment
The risk assessment was carried out to determine the risks to farm animals and humans from pathogens potentially present in meat contained within composted catering waste. It concluded that it is acceptable to apply composted catering waste to land provided that:
1. All steps are taken to eliminate any by-pass of the composting/biogas process, including ensuring that:
- Raw catering waste material is not keep on livestock farms;
- Birds and small mammals do not gain access to the raw material; and
- Raw material is delivered to a housed reception;
2. A two-barrier composting system is used for the "meat" fraction.
3. For each composting barrier, the catering waste reaches a temperature of 60°C for two days during composting, with the composting process being continued for at least 14 days;
4. The first treatment barrier be it "in-vessel" or windrow is housed or enclosed;
5. Windrows are turned at least three times;
6. "Dirty" end is kept separate from the "clean" end; i.e. different tools and equipment are used to handle the final product and the raw material;
7. Biogas is performed at 57°C; minimum guaranteed retention time = 5 h; hydraulic retention time = 19 days;
8. The maximum particle size for composting is <40 cm diameter. This includes large joints of meat, e.g. discarded after freezer failures. For biogas, a maximum 5 cm (diameter) particle size is required;
9. Animals are not allowed to graze on land to which composted catering waste has been applied for a period of 2 months.
The Way Forward in Light of the Risk Assessment
DEFRA has recently consulted on an amendment to the ABPO which would permit the treatment, in approved composting and biogas plants, of catering waste and some animal by-products from premises handling meat or products of animal origin.
The proposals propose strict process controls and places restrictions on where and how composting can be carried out. There is still some uncertainty over some of the proposals and these will remain until some points of clarification are received from the European Commission. It is expected that the amended legislation will be adopted in March 2003.
Facilities composting catering waste will continue to be regulated by the Environment Agency under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations but will also require State Veterinary Service approval to treat catering waste and animal by-products. Local Authority Trading Standards will continue to regulate the treatment of catering waste under the ABPO.
EU Animal By-Products Regulation
The amended UK Animal By-Products Order will be superseded by the implementation of the EU Animal By-Products Regulation, the specific requirements of which will come into force at the beginning of May 2003.
The Regulation sets strict processing and end-product standards fir the composting of animal by-products, but does not apply to catering waste. In this case Member States are able to set their own national standards for composting and biogas plants treating catering waste provided that they are no less stringent than those in the Regulation.
DEFRA is currently consulting on the implementation of the Regulation, using the results of the risk assessment to inform its position on the composting and biogas treatment of catering waste.
Footnote
(1) The Animal By-Products (Amendment) (England) Order 2001 (SI No. 1704) and the Animal By-Products (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2001 (SI No. 1735)
February 2003 
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