The European Union's Animal By-Products Regulations (Regulation No 1069/2009) allows for the treatment of some animal by-products in composting and biogas plants ( anaerobic digesters). The following article describes procedures required to allow solid outputs ( compost, digestate) from composting plants and anaerobic digesters onto land in the United Kingdom.

Categories of Animal By-Products

• Category 1: Very high risk
• Category 2: High risk
• Category 3: Low risk

Category 1

• BSE ( Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) carcasses and suspects
• Specified Risk Material
• Catering waste from international transport

Must all be destroyed, not for use in composting or biogas plants

Category 2

• Condemned meat
• Manure and gut contents

Can be used in composting and biogas plants after rendering (133C, 3 bar pressure) Manure and gut contents only can be used after pretreatment

Category 3

• Catering waste from households, restaurants
• Former food
• Much slaughter house waste e.g. waste blood & feathers

Can be used in composting and biogas plants without pretreatment

Treatment Standards

Composting

Closed reactor

• Maximum particle size 40cm, minimum temperature 60C, minimum time at that temperature 2 days
• Maximum Particle size 6cm, minimum temperature 70C, minimum time at that temperature 1 hour

Housed windrow

• Particle size 40cm, minimum temperature 60C, minimum time at that temperature 8 days

Biogas plants

• Maximum particle size 5cm, minimum temperature 57C, minimum time at that temperature 5 hours
• Maximum particle size 6cm, minimum temperature 70C, minimum time at that temperature 1 hour

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References

• Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation)

• Commission Regulation (EU) No 749/2011 of 29 July 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and implementing Council Directive 97/78/EC as regards certain samples and items exempt from veterinary checks at the border under that Directive Text with EEA relevance

Notes

Further reading

• Leoci, R., Animal by-products (ABPs): origins, uses, and European regulations, Mantova: Universitas Studiorum, 2014. ISBN  978-88-97683-47-6

See also

• Anaerobic digestion
• Biodegradable waste
• Composting
• Pasteurization