Animal by-products and food waste

If you store animal by-product (ABP) waste for routine collection, you must keep it separated from other waste and store each animal by-product category separately.

You must store animal by-product waste in clean, sealed, leak-proof containers. Label all containers with the category of the material as follows:

• category 3 material - not for human consumption
• category 2 material - not for animal consumption
• category 1 material - for disposal only

You must not store ABPs where they could contaminate other foodstuffs or be exposed to animals or wild birds.

Use authorised waste carriers

Check that you are using an individual or business authorised by the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) for the storage, processing, treatment or disposal of animal by-product waste. Read DAERA's guidance note on activities that may require approval or registration.

Make sure that you complete a commercial document, recording the transfer of animal by-product waste. A commercial document is different from a waste transfer note or hazardous waste consignment note.

Record the date that the animal by-products were removed, a description of the material, and the name and address of the waste carrier and the receiver of the waste.

Keep a copy of all documents for at least two years. You may need to show them during an inspection.

Clean and disinfect containers after each waste collection.

Have an emergency plan, eg to avoid destroying large quantities of animal by-products because of a freezer breakdown or product recall.

You must not send to landfill any packaging that is significantly contaminated with animal by-product material, eg bloodstains. You must dispose of it as an animal by-product.

International catering waste is classed as a category 1 animal by-product and therefore requires specialist management - see disposing of animal by-products.