NFU Scotland has secured an important win in relation to biobed and composting regulations within the Waste Management Licensing system.

From Friday 1 December, members who compost material arising within their own farm business are able to carry out a bigger scale of operations within their exemption. The upper limit for material awaiting the process or in process has been raised to 1000 tons from 400 tons at any one time.

Additionally, authorisation for disposal of pesticide washings to lined biobeds will be granted by an exemption. Also, the recovery and reuse of liquid and material from such biobeds is permitted.

Other potentially useful new exemptions for farms cover the use of compacted and securely baled tyres in engineering works and the use of waste vegetable oils as domestic scale biofuels for heat and/or power generation and powering of vehicles.

George Lawrie, Chairman of the NFUS Environment and Land Use Committee, said:

“This is an important step forward for farmers, the environment and for common sense and we are grateful to Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) officials for acting on the recommendations that we made.

“The more environmental measures that can be carried out on farm the better. Farmers want to do their bit for the environment but they need to be supported by Government in terms of regulations and, where appropriate, funding.

“This decision is a very positive move and represents sensible regulatory changes. We will continue to fight for rational environmental regulation across the board so that farmers can make an even more positive contribution.”

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