Animal mortality can result from natural processes, normal agricultural operations, animal disease, accidents, severe weather events and other scenarios. Animal carcasses can decay quickly and be a source of odors, vectors, and pathogens detrimental to human health and the environment. Carcasses should be managed as quickly as possible after mortality and should not be handled through a public convenience center or transfer station.

DEQ’s preference for environmentally sound management of routine animal mortality in Virginia is as follows:

  1. Rendering
  2. On-site Composting at the Farm of Generation
  3. Off-site Concentrated or Commercial Composting
  4. Incineration at Permitted Facility with Air Pollution Control Equipment
  5. Disposal in a Permitted Sanitary Landfill
  6. On-Site Burial at the Farm of Generation

Emergency or mass animal mortality resulting from animal disease requires more stringent biosecurity protocols and additional coordination with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), and the State Veterinarian. DEQ and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have also identified other management options for potential emergency poultry and swine depopulation or mortality events in non-disease scenarios, such as storm events or supply chain interruptions due to the effects of COVID-19 on meat processing plants.

Rendering

Rendering (the processing of animal carcasses into useful products for commerce) is the preferred option for livestock disposal. However, rendering facilities may have limitations on the type and quantity of animal waste they can accept.

On-Site Composting at the Farm of Generation

Farms and other facilities that raise or husband animals may compost routine animal mortality onsite as an alternative to other disposal options. Composting of animal carcasses onsite at the farm of generation does not require a solid waste permit from DEQ as long as certain conditions are met in order to prevent a public nuisance, open dump, or hazard to human health and the environment.

Off-Site Concentrated or Commercial Composting

Farms and other facilities composting animal carcasses generated from offsite must obtain a permit from DEQ and adhere to additional siting, design, construction, operational, recordkeeping and reporting requirements under the Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations.

Non-farm sites (such as slaughterhouses, multi-farm composting cooperatives, fish and poultry hatcheries, canneries and seafood cleaning facilities, zoos and animal care facilities, and road kill management areas) should contact DEQ to discuss specific composting requirements applicable to their proposed operation.

Compost used by the public may be subject to requirements of VDACS.

Incineration at Permitted Facility with Air Pollution Control Equipment

There is limited capacity for management of animal mortality at permitted incineration facilities in Virginia.

Open burning of animal carcasses is not permitted, and the use of air curtain incinerators is not a viable option in Virginia.

Disposal in a Permitted Sanitary Landfill

Certain types and quantities of animal carcasses may be disposed of at permitted sanitary landfills provided the facility’s permit allows for acceptance of such waste. Please contact the landfill prior to disposal to ensure the waste is suitable for acceptance. A Special Waste Disposal Request Form for Emergency Poultry Mortality or Emergency Animal Mortality may be required.

On-Site Burial at the Farm of Generation

As a last resort when other management options are not available, farms and other facilities that raise or husband domestic livestock for private use, such as traditional farm-based livestock husbandry, may bury routine animal mortality onsite. Burial of animal carcasses onsite at the farm of generation does not require a solid waste permit from DEQ as long as certain conditions are met in order to prevent a public nuisance, open dump, or hazard to human health and the environment.

Owners and operators of livestock or poultry Animal Feeding Operations are subject to additional requirements for management of animal mortality.