Waste

Dairy operations generate a number of waste streams that must be appropriately managed to protect natural landscape assets (waterways, biodiversity areas), prevent pests, disease and weeds, and to ensure the safety and health of both humans and animals.

General waste does not include manure, bedding or mortalities as long as these remain on site. These are managed through other risk management principles. If manure is removed from site, it is defined as waste and must meet requirements under an exemption or the obligations under the POEO Act (see Section 9.6 Biosecurity, Principle 4).

Appropriate management of farm wastes prevents:

• property devaluation
• contamination of soils and water resources
• breeding sites for disease spreading mosquitoes, pest animals and predators
• contamination of home grown or imported stored feed
• human and stock injury, health issues or death
• offensive odours to sensitive receptors
• penalties and clean-up costs from poor management.

Dairy operations can manage waste by safely:

• reusing, recycling or transporting general rubbish off-farm
• disposing or recycling silage plastic (bale wrap and pit covers)
• washing, handling, storing and transporting of chemical containers to reuse and recycling programs
• disposing of products used for cow health (for example, pharmaceutical products, administering devices, teat and footbath liquids)
• storing and using tyres for feed storage
• managing milk unsuitable for human consumption or use on the farm as calf feed.

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