When it comes to disposal of animal carcass and waste, there are varying preferences around the world as to which method provides the safest, most efficient and cost-effective solution.
Two methods of disposal often closely compared in animal waste management are incineration and rendering. These are similar processes, but they have very different outcomes and results. Rendering is a viable option if there are good returns from the carcass in terms of its fats. However, incineration is a far more reliable method of destroying carcass that can't be reused and is a much 'cleaner' process than many realise.
What is rendering?
Rendering is a way of converting animal waste into other usable materials, such as feed protein. Fatty tissue, bones, offal and even the animal carcass itself are exposed to temperatures of around 130 degrees Celsius and then pressurised using steam to destroy any pathogens. This process creates a new material for alternative purposes such as grease, or high-protein meat.
However, not all by product cannot be completely destroyed by rendering, meaning those who use it to manage their waste will still have to undertake a secondary process to ensure all material is demolished. For example, a separate process is required to destroy waste blood. All in all, the entire rendering process can often take days to complete
Rendering also poses bio-security concerns as the material that needs to be treated must be transported to a rendering plant. this caused a contamination risk as it is exposing people, land and water to product that can be extremely hazardous.
Benefits of incineration versus rendering
In comparison, incineration - the thermal and complete destruction of animal waste and carcasses - is a more viable, efficient and reliable process.
Many still believe incineration is only suitable for the management of small carcasses - such as poultry and swine. However, developments in incinerators mean there are now products available capable of burning livestock and horses in large quantities, making them a useful tool to have on site at farms, for example.
Installed at site, incineration removes the need for the costly and dangerous transportation of animal waste. While it used to require a large upfront investment, we now offer payment plans to support our customers, meaning they can start using an incinerator straight away but pay for it later.
Commissioning your own animal incinerator also means you can destroy animal waste as and when it's produced, and enables you to quickly manage any disease outbreak and achieve bio-security. This is unlike rendering, where you would need to build up a certain quantity of animal waste, and hold it on site, until you had enough to warrant the cost of transportation and the rendering itself.
Incineration of animal waste and by product simply produces an ash, which can be safely disposed of. So while many think incinerators are bad for the environment, our products produce only clean air, meaning there's no wider impact from their use.
If you'd like to discuss the benefits of incineration versus rendering in greater detail, get in touch with our team who will explain more about our products and how they can benefit you.
