DEFRA have further delayed the unveiling of new agricultural waste regulations until February 2006, reports David Canty of farm business consultants, Strutt & Parker.

The arrival of these regulations will be the beginning of a clamp down on all waste that comes off farms which will be enforced by the Environment Agency. All waste will have to be disposed of in a regulated manner, either through licensed waste carriers, or registered recycling companies.

The options available to farmers will be:

Store waste on farm pending collection

Take the waste for recovery or disposal off the farm at an appropriately registered site

Transfer the waste to someone else for recover or disposal

Register for a license exemption to recover or dispose of your waste on farm

Apply for a waste management license or a landfill permit or dispose of waste on farm

Mr Canty of Strutt & Parker says “The cost of disposing waste will depend on how much is produced and how it is disposed of. Minimising waste is essential if costs are to be kept to a minimum, this can be done through astute purchasing. For example ordering chemicals in 10 litre or 1.000 litre containers rather than one or five litre where practical will help to reduce the volume of plastic on farm.

“The biggest issue is likely to be plastic. The volume of waste may be significant but weight wise it should be minimal. Of the waste contractors that we deal with as a firm, most will be dealing with plastic on a weight basis, so in theory, cost should be minimal but beware of minimum charges. You need to have enough waste for collection in order that it is economical for the waste contractor to take it away.

The delay may be welcomed by some, as it gives more time to clear up existing waste under the present and more favourable rules. However, farmers should not be lulled into a false sense of security, warns Mr Canty. “Businesses should use this extra time to think about how they will deal with the new rules. It would be a good idea to trial different disposal methods to see which ones will fit. The regulations will have a big impact on many farms when they eventually arrive.

“And remember the onus will be on the farmer to research the details of the new rules: it is not DEFRA’s intention, as we understand it, for instructions to be issued to every farmer. However on a positive note those best placed to think of and progress such solutions are farmers themselves – this could give rise to farm diversification enterprises.”