Burning and burying farm waste
What you must do
Burying farm waste
You must not bury waste in a farm dump or tip on your farm unless you have a:
- pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit, in Northern Ireland
- an EASR permit, in Scotland
Contact your environmental regulator
However, turning a farm dump into a compliant landfill site is an impractical and expensive solution for most farmers.
Pollution prevention and control permits in Northern Ireland
EASR authorisations in Scotland
Burning farm waste
You must not burn non-natural farm waste, such as plastic and tyres, in the open.
You can burn natural farm waste like crop residues (from linseed, cereals, oil seed rape, peas and beans), hedge trimmings and other untreated wood in the open.
- In Northern Ireland, you must register an exemption with the NIEA
- In Scotland, certain low risk waste activities involving the burning waste plant tissue and untreated wood may be carried out without authorisation from SEPA, if you follow standard conditions
Controls on burning waste in the open
In Northern Ireland you are no longer allowed to use a drum incinerator to burn empty pesticide containers.
If you operate any incinerator, you will likely need an authorisation. Contact your local council in Northern Ireland, or SEPA in Scotland.
Further information
In Northern Ireland, see section 11 of the DARD code of good agricultural practice for water, air and soil.
DAERA: Code of good agricultural practice for the prevention of pollution of water, air and soil
In Scotland, see section 12 of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) Code.