AGRICULTURAL WASTE

When agricultural practices change so that cattle and pigs are kept indoors, it is necessary to collect their faeces in slurry pits, and the slurry is disposed of by spreading it on the fields as fertiliser. Rain can move nutrients from the fields to waterways, causing pollution.

Slurry pits are dangerous to life and health of farm workers, and are a source of air pollution, giving out two greenhouse gases (ammonia and methane, which are valuable energy sources if properly managed) and hydrogen sulphide and CO2 (another greenhouse gas).

There is therefore an opportunity to manage slurry far more ecologically and economically, but it will take investment.