New May 1994
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Original legislation for the management of dead animals in Missouri was developed in the 1940s. As livestock operations grew larger and more sophisticated means of animal production, transport, slaughtering and processing were developed, the legislation became outdated.
New legislation was developed. The Missouri Dead Animal Disposal Statute was passed by the 86th General Assembly and became law on Aug. 28, 1992. The compliance dates for the law are immediate for all animals except poultry and turkeys. For poultry and turkeys, the compliance deadline is July 1, 1995. This law does not apply to wildlife.
The disposal of dead animals is regulated as a solid waste by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Solid Waste Management program and by the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Division of Animal Health.
Current law requires that the body of an animal that has died be properly disposed of within 24 hours after knowledge of the death. Disposal methods acceptable to DNR are rendering facility, composting, sanitary landfill, incineration and on-site burial.
The DNR Water Pollution Control program protects the quality of the groundwater and surface water supplies of the state by regulating the disposal of wastewater pollutants.
Improper disposal of dead animals can result in surface water or groundwater contamination. Therefore, proper dead animal disposal is important. DNR requires all submitted letter of approval applications for Class I facilities contain a brief description outlining one or more acceptable methods for dead animal disposal. DNR recommends that letter of approval applications for Class II facilities also include this information.
The following acceptable methods of dead animal disposal are listed in order of preference by DNR.
A DNR goal is to promote resource reuse and recycling in the state. However, the lack of rendering plants in the state prevents many producers from using this option. Efforts among several producers using stations for dead animal collection may make rendering a workable option.
Composting of dead animals in a properly designed and sized dead animal composter
This new and experimental technology allows the end product to be recycled back to the land as a fertilizer. It has proven to be a very effective means of carcass management in the poultry and swine industries. Refer to other MU Water Quality Initiative publications for information on dead animal composting.
Dead animal disposal in an approved sanitary landfill
Landfills are permitted to accept dead animals under Chapter 260, RSMo. Modern sanitary landfills are designed and operated to prevent leaching into groundwater or surface waters. The drawback of landfills is that they are only for disposing, not for recycling, and landfill space is becoming scarce. Even though a landfill is permitted to accept dead animals, it may not be the policy of the landfill operator.
Incinerating dead animals
Incineration of dead animals is feasible, but it may not be economical. It is energy intensive and has the potential for polluting the environment if the incinerator is not operated and maintained properly. Open burning of dead animals or burning in a trash barrel or similar type of container is not allowed.
Any commercial incineration of dead animals must be done in an incinerator designed, constructed and operated according to Chapter 643 RSMo. Air Conservation Law and regulation 10 CSR 10-6.160. A permit from the Air Pollution Control program is required for constructing a new incinerator. Now, existing incinerators must comply with 10 CSR-6.160.
Agricultural incinerators do not need a permit. As defined in 10 CSR 10-6.020, an agricultural incinerator is located on a farm or ranch and has a burning capacity of less than 100 pounds per hour of Type 4 waste. It is located more than 1,500 feet from the nearest inhabited dwelling not on the farm or ranch. Type 4 wastes include animal remains, carcasses, organ and solid tissue wastes from farms, laboratories and animal pounds. Incineration of plastics or other wastes containing chlorine is not permitted.
This definition limits agricultural incinerators without permits to relatively small units that may not be adequate for large-scale animal production units. In any case, even an incinerator not requiring a permit must be operated in a manner that does not cause a nuisance condition or air pollution and must comply with 10 CSR 10-6.160.
Non-commercial dead animal incinerators operated with a burning capacity of more than 100 pounds per hour must have a permit. However, these incinerators are exempt from the requirements for residence time, secondary chamber temperature and hydrogen chloride testing.
On-site burial of dead animals
This option is the least desirable, due to the potential for water pollution. It is acceptable if certain practices are followed to limit pollution.
Although on-site burial is the least-preferred method of disposal, it may be the only practical option for some producers.
In order to comply with the law, the burial method must follow certain guidelines. These restrictions may be very different from traditional dead animal disposal practices. The following outlines on-site dead animal burial:
The map outlines the areas of Missouri considered to have major groundwater contamination potential (Figure 1). You should contact DNR, Division of Geology and Land Survey at Rolla, Mo., for a site-specific evaluation of the groundwater pollution potential at your specific location.
Figure 1
The shaded areas on this map are considered to have major groundwater contamination potential.
There are other regulation guidelines that may change the way dead animals are managed. In particular, the transportation and holding of dead animals in a collection station. These items may be important to producers developing a plan to collect and haul dead animals to a rendering plant or similar facility.
A permit from the state veterinarian is required for commercial vehicles used in transporting dead animals. The permit must be attached to each vehicle that is used in hauling the carcasses.
Vehicles used for transporting carcasses need a metal tank or tank with a watertight metal lining to carry the carcasses. It should not drip or seep. Hide the carcasses from view when transporting.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect the vehicles after each hauling. In cleaning the vehicles, thoroughly wash with hot water or steam and disinfect with a solution prescribed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture's state veterinarian.
Do not use vehicles that have hauled carcasses to transport live animals, feeds or similar commodities.
Vehicles hauling carcasses must go to their destination directly, stopping only to load more carcasses. The vehicle's operator must get permission before entering a facility to pick up additional carcasses.
The driver of a vehicle hauling carcasses is responsible for the cleanup of any spills or leaks that may occur as a result of the hauling.
The following are exceptions to the transportation requirements and primarily affect producers on a non-commercial basis.
The following requirements apply to operating a collection station that may receive carcasses from several producers for transport to a renderer or other disposal facility.
Dead animal carcasses should not be buried, burned, cooked or otherwise disposed, except as provided for in the dead animal regulations.
If the animal did not die of a contagious disease, the owner may remove the hide before disposing of the carcass properly, but not creating a nuisance.
If the owner or person responsible for a dead animal is absent, unwilling or unable to dispose of the animal properly, and the state veterinarian determines that the dead animal is a health risk or nuisance, the veterinarian may enter the premises, take possession and dispose of the animal. The owner or person responsible for the dead animal must reimburse the state veterinarian for reasonable expenses.
Large-scale animal deaths may occur, such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks or a disease eradication and control program. Management of such large-scale loss may be beyond the scope of methods outlined in the regulation. In such cases, the state veterinarian, with the assistance of DNR, will develop an emergency plan for proper management of the large-scale death loss.
If a death loss is anticipated or experienced, contact the state veterinarian's office at 573-751-3377.
WQ216, new May 1994