The Waste Strategy Branch of the Welsh Government has launched a consultation and Call for Evidence for information about waste produced and managed by the agriculture sector in Wales.

The consultation aims to determine whether it is necessary to develop a ‘sector specific action plan’ or a ‘finalised Position Statement’ for agriculture in order to deliver Wales’ overarching waste strategy Towards Zero Waste (TZW).

Farming businesses, waste management companies, local authorities, regulators, delivery bodies and others interested in agricultural waste and resource efficiency will be called upon to provide current evidence for discussion in the consultation.

This evidence, as well as views of the industry, will be collated in order to ‘identify issues, barriers and practical problems that the sector faces'.

Although the consultation aims to establish the evidence and support that is currently in place in the agricultural sector, it will also cover the ‘opportunities for the use of farm manure to generate renewable energy and the problems of wastes fly-tipped on agricultural land.’

The Welsh Government will use the responses to this call for evidence to decide if there is a need for further action and a useful role for a sector specific action plan, or whether a finalised Position Statement will suffice.

A ‘commitment to sustainable development and well-being’

The consultation comes as part of the Welsh Government’s waste management objective Towards Zero Waste (TZW).

Writing in the foreword to the report, the Minister for Natural Resources and Food for Wales, Alun Davies, said: “Our Sustainable Development Scheme ‘One Wales, One Planet’ shows clearly our current levels of consumption are unsustainable.”

He continued: “The policies and targets in Towards Zero Waste reflect the importance of the need to change our wasteful ways urgently and to fulfil our commitment to sustainable development and well-being, which is at the heart of everything the Welsh Government does.

“The call for evidence sets out the current situation for the wastes produced and managed by the agriculture sector in Wales. It also covers the opportunities for the use of farm manure to generate renewable energy and the problems of wastes fly-tipped on agricultural land. It identifies the evidence and the support that is currently in place.”

‘A good time to review'

Waste produced by the agriculture sector in Wales accounts for ‘a relatively low proportion’ of the total waste produced by the commercial and industrial sectors in Wales at less than one per cent.

However, the consultation document highlights that up to date, accurate data of the type and volume of waste produced on farms, or waste recovered on agricultural land, ‘is not available at present’ and ‘is a barrier for identifying appropriate targets’ in order to meet TZW commitments.

The Welsh Government therefore suggest that it is a ‘good time review’ the impact that agricultural waste has upon the environment and human health and the potential for improved resource efficiency.

Potential ‘market for the recycling and recovery’ of waste

The consultation is also set to identify possible efficient uses of waste within the agriculture sector.

It is suggested that waste generated by other sectors could be recovered by ‘beneficially using them within agriculture’. This includes ‘using biowastes as fertilisers’ and the potential to use inert construction and demolition wastes to ‘improve land and help with the management of land’.

It is hoped that the consultation may also highlight further opportunities to develop ‘a circular economy for organic materials’ and in doing so contribute to the ‘important market for the recycling or recovery’ of waste within the agricultural sector.

An opportunity to address ‘risks and challenges’

The consultation also purports to offer the opportunity to address the ‘risks and challenges’ present within the management of agricultural waste.

Although agricultural waste is not considered to be ‘a problematic waste’ in Wales, such components as asbestos from farm buildings, demolition wastes, hazardous farm chemicals, animal drugs, sheep dip chemicals, ‘can cause problems locally if not managed correctly’.

The consultation aims to ‘ensure that the important role of the sector is understood, that benefits are maximised and that any problems are addressed adequately’ .

Call for Evidence details

The Welsh Government is calling upon the following bodies to contribute evidence for the consultation:

• Farmers
• Horticulturalists
• Farming unions
• Trade bodies
• Agricultural suppliers
• Food and drink manufacturers and retailers
• Waste companies
• Conservation and environmental NGOs
• Regulators (eg. Natural Resources Wales, Local Authorities, State Veterinary Service)
• Water and sewerage companies
• Consultants

The questions posed ask for a range of information from specific data about agricultural waste, to details about regulation and general information.

Examples of questions in the Call for Evidence include:

• ‘Do you have evidence of actual types and volumes of agricultural waste produced, and the types and volume of waste recovered on agricultural holdings annually in Wales?’
• 'Do you have evidence of the practical issues and main barriers to the agricultural industry in managing, reducing, reusing and recycling agricultural waste?'
• 'Do you think that the agricultural industry requires a specific sector plan? Please give evidence and reasons.'

Read the full consultation document.