| | Method 1: natural disposal | Method 2: burying | Method 3: composting | Method 4: burning | Method 5: rendering | Regardless of which method is used
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This web page will provide a brief overview of the Destruction and Disposal of Dead Animals Regulation. The information summarizes the regulatory requirements for five methods used for the destruction and disposal of dead animals.
Method 1: Natural Disposal
Method 2: Burying
Method 3: Composting
Method 4: Burning
Method 5: Rendering
Please consult the text of the legislation and/or Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD), Regulatory Services Division.
Method 1: Natural Disposal
Natural disposal means disposing of the dead animal in order to allow for scavenging. A dead animal may be disposed of by natural disposal if all the conditions are met:
- the animal is disposed of on property owned or leased by the owner of the animal;
- the animal was not euthanised with drugs or other chemical substances;
- the total weight of the animals being disposed of at any one site does not exceed 1,000 kg;
- there is a distance of at least 500 metres between disposal sites;
- the disposal site is at least 500 metres from wells or other domestic water intakes, streams, creeks, ponds, water wells, springs and high water marks of lakes and at least 25 metres from the edge of a coulee, major cut or embankment;
- the disposal site is at least 400 metres from any:
- livestock facilities, including pastures, situated on land owned or leased by another person;
- residences;
- road allowance; and
- any provincial park, recreation area, natural area, ecological reserve, wilderness area or forest recreation area; and
- disposing by natural disposal does not create a nuisance.
An animal that is confirmed or suspected to have died from an infectious or a reportable disease must be disposed of under the direction of an inspector appointed under the Health of Animals Act (Canada) or a veterinary inspector appointed under the Livestock Diseases Act (Alberta). The animal cannot be disposed of by natural disposal.
Method 2: Burying
A farm burial pit may be used if it meets all of the following conditions.
1. The weight of dead animals in the pit must not exceed 2,500 kg. In the case of a disaster (fire, flood, etc.), this first condition may be waived in accordance with the direction of a veterinary inspector appointed under the Livestock Diseases Act.
2. The pit must be located at least:
- 100 metres from wells or other domestic water intakes, streams, creeks, ponds, springs and high water marks of lakes and at least 25 metres from the edge of a coulee, major cut or embankment;
- 100 metres from any residences;
- 100 metres from any livestock facilities, including pastures, situated on land owned or leased by another person;
- 300 metres from a primary highway;
- 100 metres from a secondary highway; and
- 50 metres from any other road allowance.
3. The pit must be covered with:
- a minimum of one metre of compacted soil; or
- a wooden or metal lid that is designed to exclude scavengers, if quicklime is applied to the dead animal in sufficient quantities to control flies and odour.
4. The bottom of the pit must be at least one metre above the seasonal high-water table.
A Class I or Class II landfill, as defined in the Waste Control Regulation (AR 192/96), that is willing to accept the dead animals may be used if the site has a full-time operator who agrees to immediately bury the dead animal.
Method 3: Composting
Composting means decomposing the dead animal to result in a stable humus-like material. Composting a dead animal may be done in a farm open compost pile if all the following conditions are met.
The farm open compost pile must be:
- located at least 100 metres from wells or other domestic water intakes, streams, creeks, ponds, springs and highwater marks of lakes and at least 25 metres from the edge of a coulee, major cut or embankment;
- located at least 100 metres from any residences;
- designed in a manner that will exclude scavengers; and
- at least 100 metres from any livestock facilities, including pastures, situated on land owned or leased by another person.
In using the farm open compost pile:
- the maximum volume of the animals or parts of them must not exceed 25 per cent of the total compost pile; and
- the animals or parts of them must be covered by at least 15 cm of composting material.
Composting a dead animal may also be done in a Class I compost facility, as defined in the Waste Control Regulation (AR 192/96). Please contact Alberta Environment for additional information about the requirements associated with composting.
Method 4: Burning
Burning of the dead animal may occur if done in accordance with the Substance Release Regulation (AR 124/93) or the Code of Practice for Small Incinerators. Please contact Alberta Environment for additional information about the requirements associated with burning. Contact your municipal district office regarding burning permit requirements.
Method 5: Rendering
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A dead animal may be transported to a licensed rendering plant for disposal. The operator of the rendering plant shall ensure that the rendered dead animal is free from all viable pathogenic organisms. As well, the operator shall ensure that microbiological quality assurance processes are in place.
Regardless of Which Method is Used
The owner of a dead animal must dispose of the animal within 48 hours of its death. The owner may store the dead animal for more than 48 hours after its death if it is stored according to any of the following conditions:
- for not more than one week in an enclosed structure constructed for this storage purpose;
- outside during winter months when the ambient temperature is low enough to keep the dead animal completely frozen;
- in a freezer unit; or
- in accordance with the directions of an inspector appointed under the Health of Animals Act (Canada) or under the Livestock Diseases Act.
No person shall feed a dead animal to other food-producing animals unless:
- the material from the dead animal has been properly rendered at a licensed rendering plant and the prohibition to feed prohibited material to ruminants under the Health of Animals Regulation (Canada) is complied with, or
- the feeding of the material is a recognized means of stimulating natural immunity for specific disease conditions and the prohibition to feed prohibited material to ruminants under the Health of Animals Regulation (Canada) is complied with.
Enforcement of the regulation is the responsibility of the Regulatory Services Division, ARD. If you have questions or concerns regarding the interpretation and enforcement of the legislative provisions, please contact:
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Regulatory Services Division
Inspection and Investigation Branch
204 Provincial Building
4920 - 51st Street
Red Deer, AB
T4N 6K8
Telephone: 403-340-7172
Fax: 403-340-5870
If you wish to report a concern relating to this legislation, you may call ARD’s toll-free telephone number at 1-866-252-6403. |
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