Guidelines for Dry Muck Out

INTRODUCTION

Following the implementation of the Livestock Waste Control Scheme in 1988 and the revised Livestock Waste Control Scheme in 1994, livestock farmers in Livestock Waste Control and Restriction Areas are required to comply with control requirements in the management and disposal of livestock waste. One of the recommended livestock waste management measures is the Dry Muck-Out Method (DMO) which minimizes the amount of wastewater requiring treatment. This involves the dry removal of solid livestock waste from livestock keeping structures for subsequent disposal, the cleaning or hosing down of the residual waste with a small volume of water, and the treatment and disposal of the wastewater generated. These guidelines are prepared with a view to providing livestock farmers and system designers with general information on the dry muck-out operation for the abatement of pollution caused by livestock waste.

It should be noted that all livestock waste removed from livestock structures must be properly stored and handled at all times. The small quantity of wastewater generated from livestock keeping structures may be disposed of by a soakaway system, and it is an offence under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) to allow sub-standard wastewater (treated or untreated) or waste matters enter environmental waters. An offence under the WDO may constitute a violation of other legislation (including the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance and the Waterworks Ordinance, etc).

The dry muck-out operation is suitable for poultry farms and pig farms, especially small ones, in which labour is available for the dry muck-out of livestock waste and the location of the farm is suitable for the installation of a soakaway system.