Waste From Carcasses is Pumped Into the Sea

Thousands of gallons of blood and liquid waste from rotting animal carcasses are being dumped in the Irish Sea by order of the Ministry of Agriculture. The waste is collected from large foot and mouth burial sites at Great Orton, Cumbria, Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway.

It is disinfected and taken by tankers to the sewage works in Workington, where it is treated and pumped out a quarter of a mile off the coast. The dumping had gone ahead without consultation or notice to the residents or the councillors. The Environment Agency said pumping the waste out to sea was 'a short-term answer' to prevent it building up and seeping into water courses. A MAFF spokesman said: 'There is no risk to human health. The liquid is so diluted that it is risk-free. It is being discharged in accordance with strict environmental protection laws and it is being monitored closely.'

Source: The Sunday Telegraph, 29 April 2001