Written question asked by Ben Chapman (Labour) on Thursday, 11 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 October 2007. It was answered by Joan Ruddock (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animal Products: Waste Disposal

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of tallow has been disposed of in landfill over the last three years; and what arrangements for the disposal of tallow will be made following the planned introduction of the renewable transport fuel obligation in 2008.

Answer: [holding answer 16 October 2007]: Data on the total volume of tallow disposed of in landfill are not held by DEFRA or the Environment Agency.Under the Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 (ABPR), tallow can only be landfilled if the animal by-products from which it has been derived have undergone the relevant level of processing (rendering).Regulatory restrictions, and the high value of tallow for further uses, means that its disposal to landfill is likely to be rare.The disposal of tallow must comply with the relevant regulatory requirements, including the ABPR, waste management legislation and, where appropriate, the Waste Incineration Directive. No other arrangements for the recovery or disposal of tallow are planned by my Department to coincide with the renewable transport fuel obligation's requirements.

Secondary information