Incinerating animal carcasses

If your incinerator burns only whole animal carcasses, parts of animal carcasses that have been cut up (for ease of transport or to facilitate incineration) or unprocessed parts of carcasses, it is excluded from the Waste Incineration Directive (WID). However, you may still require a permit.

England and Wales

• If your incinerator has a capacity of between 50kg and one tonne per hour, and 10 tonnes or less per day, you need a Part B environmental permit.
• If your incinerator has a capacity of more than 10 tonnes per day but less than one tonne per hour, you need a Part A(2) environmental permit.
• If your plant has a capacity of more than one tonne per hour you require a Part A(1) environmental permit.

Northern Ireland

• If your incinerator has a capacity of between 50kg and one tonne per hour and less than 10 tonnes per day, you need a Part C PPC permit.
• If your incinerator has a capacity of more than one tonne per hour or more than 10 tonnes per day you require a Part A PPC permit. 

Scotland

• If your incinerator has a capacity of between 50kg per hour and one tonne per hour and less than 10 tonnes per day, you need a Part B PPC permit.
• If your incinerator exceeds a capacity of 10 tonnes per day you need a Part A PPC permit.

If you have an on-farm incinerator burning only whole carcasses, you must meet specific standards and the incinerator must be approved by the Animal Health Agency in England, Scotland and Wales, or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland.

Animal Health Agency

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

In this guideline:

Types of waste incineration
How do you comply with the Waste Incineration Directive?
When does the Waste Incineration Directive not apply?
Incinerating animal carcasses
Permits and licences for burning waste
Waste incineration further information
Waste incineration legislation