Farmers need to act on waste now

National farm waste recycling business Agri.cycle says that surveys it has conducted recently suggest that many farmers and growers have not made any provision for waste management and that the majority have yet to register their exemptions with the Environment Agency.

"Despite all the awareness meetings which have been held around the country over the past 12 months most people appear to be leaving it until the last minute to get their waste management plans in place and decide which exemptions they want to use," says Agri.cycle's David Kent. "This will undoubtedly put pressure on the administration required to turn the exemptions around. Plus, waste management companies will also find themselves under pressure to provide an efficient service," he adds.

Exemptions are a way of allowing farmers and growers to re-use or recycle agricultural waste on their farm. Farmers need to notify their exemptions to the Environment Agency by 15 May 2007.

"There is no fee to pay and no-one has to approve your selection but if they carry on using an exemption after 15 May 2007 farmers and growers will be vulnerable to any farm inspection after that date," he warns.