Incinerating wild animal carcasses: RPS 218
Updated 3 July 2023
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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you incinerate wild animal carcasses in an incinerator.
However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:
- your activity meets the description set out in this RPS
- you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS
In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest
Activity this RPS applies to
This RPS applies when you incinerate wild animal carcasses in an incinerator.
Conditions you must comply with
The incinerator you use must:
-
have a capacity of no more than 50kg an hour
-
be approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) under the Animal By-Products Regulations
You must:
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comply with waste regulatory controls to transport and dispose of ash
-
contact APHA immediately (on 03000 200 301), if you suspect a notifiable disease
-
contact the Defra helpline (03459 335577), if you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey
-
contact the APHA Wildlife Expert Group or your nearest veterinary investigation centre, if you find a mass mortality of wildlife
You must not store more than 5 tonnes of waste at any one time before burning.
Things to note
This RPS relates to an activity that the Environment Agency considers is potentially suitable to be an exemption under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
When you must check back
The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 14 June 2026.
The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.
You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.
This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.
If you cannot comply with this RPS
If you operate under this RPS but think you may no longer be able to comply with its conditions, you must tell the Environment Agency immediately. Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Contact the Environment Agency
If you have any questions about this RPS email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk