Category 3 waste management covers the compliant storage, collection and disposal of Category 3 animal by-products (ABP).
Category 3 ABPs are classed as low-risk materials under UK legislation and include items such as meat trimmings, food waste containing animal products, hides and other animal-derived materials.
Although considered lower risk than Category 1 or 2 materials, Category 3 waste is still subject to strict regulation under UK and APHA rules to protect public, animal and environmental health.
What is classed as Category 3 ABP?
- Former foodstuffs containing meat or dairy
- Catering waste containing animal products
- Meat trimmings
- Hides and skins
- Certain processed animal proteins
How must Category 3 waste be stored and collected?
Category 3 ABP must be stored securely in clearly labelled, leak-proof containers and kept separate from other waste streams to prevent contamination. Waste should be held in designated areas and collected by a licensed waste carrier authorised to transport animal by-products. All movements must be fully documented with the correct commercial documentation to ensure compliance with UK and APHA regulations.
Category 3 ABP disposal and treatment options
Category 3 ABP is typically treated through approved processes such as rendering, anaerobic digestion or energy recovery. These methods ensure material is safely processed while recovering value wherever possible. With the right segregation and handling procedures in place, Category 3 waste can be diverted from landfill and converted into renewable energy or secondary materials, supporting both compliance and sustainability goals.
Did you know that you could receive a £20,000 fine for failure to comply with legislation?
If your company works with animal by products, you need to ensure your site meets the requirements of UK law. This includes tight controls on category 3 waste management. The friendly team at Agecko have a wealth of experience in helping UK businesses comply with regulations when it comes to waste.
Working with us, you can avoid contamination of your site and comply with legislation. We also help you increase the sustainability of your business and save on waste. Chat to our team today to arrange a free site audit.
Category 3 ABP sites
Any site hoping to handle or process category 3 ABPs must be approved by or registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Approval depends on what your site does and the type of by-products you handle.
It’s incredibly important that you avoid contamination of products in your site, particularly if you’re dealing with specified risk materials (SRM). SRMs are parts of cattle, sheep and goats that carry a high risk of the infectious disease, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE).
It is absolutely essential that these parts are removed and destroyed before they can come into contact with human or animal food chains. You have to apply for authorisation to handle these products, and secure waste management is of the utmost importance. Contamination causes illness, fines, loss of income and long-lasting reputational damage.
Keeping compliant
Agecko are on hand to help you keep your category 3 ABP waste management fully compliant with UK law. We have a wealth of experience in supporting food manufacturers, caterers, farmers, butchers and slaughterhouses, as well as lots of other companies handling animal by-products.
We offer a wide range of solutions for compliant CAT 3 ABP waste. Segregation is at the heart of our waste management strategy. Proper segregation of waste protects against contamination in premises and makes it easier to re-use more and waste less.
Our goal is to help businesses become zero waste to landfill sites. Separating different waste streams at source makes this much simpler. By keeping waste materials together, it’s easier to recycle it. It also increases your sustainability credentials and prevents expensive landfill costs. In some cases, we can even help you get rebates for environmentally conscious waste management practices. Our clever team have even created a way to recycle contaminated food waste packaging.
In the case of CAT 3 ABP, we can help you turn waste into a potential revenue source. By converting food waste into energy with anaerobic digestion, you not only save on destruction costs, you create sustainable energy!
We provide fully compliant Category 3 ABP collection and disposal services across the UK, tailored to food manufacturers, butchers, caterers, farms and processing facilities. If you want to talk about category 3 ABP waste management, get in touch with the team at Agecko today.
