Watch out for waste hazards

Types of hazardous wastes that are typically generated on farms include waste oils, oil filters, oily containers, brake fluids, unused, de-registered or partly used pesticides and their containers, some veterinary healthcare wastes, needles, waste paints, aerosol cans, corrosives, batteries, used light bulbs and waste electronic and electrical equipment.

Waste is classified as being hazardous when it displays one or more hazardous properties, such as being toxic, to human health and livestock, flammable, corrosive, irritant and toxic to the environment.

Follow the EPA and DAFM good practice guide for empty pesticide containers.

It makes both financial and environmental sense to triple rinse these containers (see www.epa .ie for the good practice guide).

Once a pesticide is de-registered (no longer approved for use), a farmer has generally 18 months to use up the product. After this period, the pesticide becomes a hazardous waste, and the farmer can store it temporarily for up to six more months. For further information on pesticides, see the www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie  website.

Farmers can store hazardous wastes for up to six months on their farms. Farm hazardous wastes should not be mixed; should be stored in a clean, dry and secure location; and should be handled in such a way to minimise the risks to human health, livestock and the environment.

When the six-month period has expired, the farmer is required to either dispose of the hazardous waste using an authorised hazardous waste contractor, or apply and obtain a waste licence from the EPA for long-term storage.

This year, farmers can avail of the pilot farm hazardous waste bring centres which are being organised by Teagasc, EPA, DAFM, ten local authorities, European Recycling Platform, WEEE Ireland and RILTA Environmental Limited. Ten pilot farm hazardous bring centres will operate in counties Dublin, Cavan, Donegal, Mayo, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and Offaly during October and November, 2014.

A fee of €2 per kilogram (excluding VAT) will be charged. Wastes accepted free of charge include waste oils and their containers, batteries, used light bulbs and other waste electronic and electrical equipment.

Each farmer is issued with a receipt of payment and a certificate of disposal for their records.

Further information on bring centres is available at www.teagasc.ie/events  and www.epa.ie  and in local Teagasc advisory offices.