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HOME / PROGRAMS & SERVICES / GUIDELINES FOR PROGRAMS /

Guidelines For Disposal of Cull Potatoes

The following guidelines for the disposal of cull or unmarketable potato products are made under the authority of Section 3 of the Prince Edward Island Environmental Protection Act. The permanent discarding or temporary storage of cull potatoes on the surface of the ground may constitute an environmental and/or public health hazard. The burial of cull potatoes may result in the degradation of the quality of groundwater and surface water resources. These guidelines are designed to reduce the risk of contamination of land and water resources which may result from the improper disposal practices. Where land spreading or burial is practiced, any combination of waste material, including soil, rock, potato waste (including sprouts) or other substances, where the potato waste content exceeds 10 % by volume is considered to be cull potatoes under these guidelines.

All potatoes must be disposed of or covered by June 15th

The following disposal options are presented in order of environmental acceptability, from best practice to acceptable practice.

1. Use of cull potatoes as livestock feed is considered an acceptable option for disposal. After June 15th a feeding permit is required. A feeding permit can be obtained by contacting the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture at 368 4044. Processing of potatoes into any type of value added product would also be considered ideal.
2. Composting of cull potatoes is an environmentally acceptable method of disposal. The location of composting facilities must follow similar guidelines to those outlined for the burial of potatoes and must have written approval of the Department of Environment and Energy.
3. The spreading of cull potatoes on frozen land during the winter is permitted under the following conditions:

I) All potatoes must be spread evenly on an eligible field to ensure freezing. Potatoes must not under any circumstances be dumped in piles.

ii) Areas subject to application of potatoes must be at least 500 feet away from any dwelling occupied by persons other than the person owning and/or disposing of the potatoes. Spreading shall not be permitted within 50 feet of the edge of a public highway.

iii) Sections of farm fields subject to application must be at least 120 feet from any watercourse where slopes average 2 to 5 percent, and 350 feet where slopes average 5 to 10 percent. Potatoes shall not be spread on slopes greater than 10 percent.

iv) Maximum application rates shall be not more than 10 tonnes/acre.

4. The burial of cull potatoes is permitted only under the following conditions:

I) The burial site shall be located at least 200 feet from any surface water body and at least 500 feet from any well or water supply. All sites within 1000 feet of a well will require prior inspection and written approval by the Department Environment and Energy.

ii) The establishment of large scale burial sites (total accumulated tonnage greater than 250 tonnes) must have the prior approval of the Department of Environment and Energy.

iii) Burial shall not occur within two feet of the bedrock surface or the water table. Prior to the excavation of a burial pit, a test hole shall be dug to determine the depth to bedrock and depth to the water table.