ADEM LAND DIVISION - SOLID WASTE BRANCH

DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE & EMERGENCY ANIMAL MORTALITY DISPOSAL

ADEM AFO/CAFO program rule 335-6-7-.21 (General Best Management And Housekeeping Practices) requires operator/owners to properly dispose of solid, toxic, or hazardous wastes as required by ADEM regulations and other applicable State and federal requirements.

ADEM Land Division rules require that putrescible waste be disposed of in a permitted municipal solid waste landfill. Rule 335-13-4-22(1)(j) requires that municipal solid waste landfills make special provision for the management of large dead animals or other highly putrescible waste (which would include large numbers of dead poultry). These provisions include immediately covering the dead animals in a designated area.

Large dead animals or large quantities of dead animals (including dead birds) are also defined as "Special Waste" in Rule 335-13-1-.03(134). Special wastes are those wastes that require specific processing, handling, or disposal techniques as determined by ADEM.

In situations where there is the potential for imminent environmental harm or a threat to public health as a result of a catastrophic event, etc, ADEM can either grant individual variances from specific provisions of the 335-13 rules or allow Special Wastes to be managed in specific ways.

ADEM will allow large quantities of dead birds resulting from catastrophic events to be managed in the following manner:

  1. Birds should be taken to a rendering facility or a permitted municipal solid waste landfill whenever possible. Birds must be properly contained and covered during transportation.

  2. In situations where birds cannot be rendered or disposed of in a municipal solid waste landfill, on-site burial will be allowed pursuant to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) guidelines.

  3. In addition to ADAI notification requirements, the ADEM Solid Waste Branch should be contacted with the following information:

    1. Number of animals or birds lost.

    2. Reason for loss.

    3. Location of proposed disposal area, including county name and farm address.

    4. Reason why dead animals or birds could not be transported to rendering facility or a permitted landfill.

    5. Name of person calling and name of owner of birds (if different).

4. In situations where dead/dying birds are mixed with debris and cannot be separated/removed safely, all waste must be disposed of in a permitted municipal solid waste landfill.

5. In situations where there are not any dead birds to be managed, all waste must be managed in accordance with the ADEM Division 335-13 regulations for disposal of solid waste. This would include demolition of buildings and waste resulting from catastrophic events. Improper disposal of regulated solid waste would constitute the creation of an unauthorized solid waste dump. The ADEM Solid Waste Branch will take appropriate enforcement action against such dumps, which may include administrative orders with civil penalties being imposed if necessary. Please contact the ADEM Solid Waste Branch at 334-271-7988 or by e-mail at landmail@adem.state.al.us if you have any questions or to request further guidance.