A bushfire, flood and drought can result in large numbers of animal carcasses requiring disposal.

Agency responsibilities

The State Emergency Management Plan identifies the various agencies and their responsibilities related to carcass disposal.

Your local council coordinates clean-up activities, including the disposal of dead animals (domestic, native and feral). To find your local council details, visit your local council website.

Agriculture Victoria provides advice on the disposal needs of dead or injured animals.

Disposal Options

• Rendering – Rendering is an effective method of converting animal carcasses into saleable products such as meat and bone meal, and tallow.
• Knackeries – Knackeries provide an efficient means of disposing of dead, unsaleable or suffering livestock.
• Licensed landfill – Disposing of carcasses to licensed landfill is an acceptable and effective option for agricultural emergencies.
• On-farm burial

Burial Site Assessments

Pit construction

Pit dimensions

Slashing

Example diagrams of burial pits

Personal (Worker) Safety

Personal (worker) protection

Personal protective equipment

Scale of response