16 January 2009
New Quality Standards for Agricultural Waste Collection Contractors
The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) has taken a proactive lead in establishing quality control standards for contractors who collect agricultural waste. It forms part of the NAAC’s Assured Land-Based Contractor scheme and will be independently audited by NSF-CMi certification.
The standard ensures that waste collected by an ‘Assured’ contractor is done so safely and professionally. It expects all staff involved in the waste collection service to be suitably skilled, collection equipment/vehicles to be maintained correctly and any hazards identified and controlled.
The standard promotes a fully traceable route between the waste producer, the waste collection contractor and the next point of the collection chain. Also, as part of the standard, waste collection contractors are required to recycle at least 70% of all waste collected.
Scheme Manager Adrian Riley said, “We have had great support from every organisation with an interest in this growing sector, notably from those who process waste plastics. They, like us, want the job to be done correctly and responsibly but with an eye on practical and economic realities.
“We expect the first consignments to be picked up off farms by an Assured Contractor later this spring as soon as the first collectors complete the certification process successfully. Farmers can then rest easier knowing that they have gone a long way towards fulfilling their obligations under the waste regulations.”
Anyone who is interested in becoming an ‘Assured’ contractor should contact Adrian Riley at the NAAC offices or, alternatively visit the NAAC stand (No 216 in Hall 2) and at the LAMMA event at the Newark Showground on the January 21 and 22.
Editors Notes
Full press packs will be available on the NAAC Stand at LAMMA (Stand 216 in Hall 2) or can be sent on request.
Contact Adrian Riley
Founded in 1897, the NAAC is the representative organisation for contractors in the UK who supply all types of land-based services to farmers, government, local authorities, sports and recreational facilities.