Animal manure still deemed industrial waste but EPA cuts red tape

Victoria’s Environmental Protection Authority has stripped away onerous rules threatening the sustainable use of manure on farms.

EPA red tape is no longer a threat to farmers using manure to fertilise their land.

The EPA has gone part-way to resolving farmer concerns over being entangled in red tape every time they want to store or use manure, which has been defined as industrial waste by the Andrews Government.

Earlier this year the EPA issued a draft determination that “manures arising from commercial, industrial or trade activities are industrial waste for the purposes of the Act 2017 and must be deposited and received at a lawful place” from July 1 this year.

It also determined that “ruminants must not have access to manure application areas or storage areas as the material may be classed as a restricted animal material”.

The move led to a farmer outcry, with the Victorian Farmers Federation fearing anyone who deposited, transported or received more than 20 cubic metres of solid manure on their property each month would have to prepare a Declaration of Use document.

However the EPA last Friday revised its determination to allow anyone “to receive industrial waste that is livestock manure, effluent or a mixture of both”, as long as they inspect each consignment to ensure it only contained manure and was used solely as “a soil amendment” or for irrigating — such as dairy effluent.

The VFF welcomed the EPA’s redrafted manure determination, which president Emma Germano said would mean no additional paperwork for farmers receiving animal manure on farm.

“The determination means that if you are doing the right thing on farm when receiving and utilising animal manure, you do not have to change your practices and you do not have to complete any additional paperwork,” Ms Germano said.

While the determination ensures that farmers are not hit with any new regulatory obligations, the fight over the classification of animal manure as industrial waste continues.

“The VFF has made clear to the Victorian Government that the classification of manure as industrial waste is inappropriate and does not respect the role of manure in modern farming systems and carbon cycling,” Ms Germano said.

“Amendment of the EPA Act to create a new classification for animal manure that respects its role as a beneficial waste remains a key priority for the VFF.”

The determination falls under a raft of new EPA regulations that come into effect on July 1.