Rendering collection
A licensed renderer collects carcasses from a roadside or yard collection point, typically 1–3 times per week. The carcasses are processed at a centralised plant into meat-and-bone meal and tallow.
Pros: zero capital cost, no operator training. Cons: ongoing per-kg fees, off-site vehicle movements, 24–72 hour delay, and a hard biosecurity break required at the collection point.
On-site incineration
Carcasses are destroyed on the holding using an approved unit. The thermal cycle eliminates pathogens fully; ash is inert and can be buried or removed by a licensed contractor.
Pros: fast disposal, no off-site movements, predictable per-cycle fuel cost and documented operation. Cons: capital outlay, fuel cost and operator time per cycle.
Composting
Aerobic decomposition of carcasses in covered windrows. Permitted in some jurisdictions for poultry only and only under tight conditions.
Pros: low operating cost. Cons: not legal in many UK regions for ruminants or swine, requires significant land and bulking material, slow (60–120 days), pathogen kill is temperature-dependent and inconsistent.
Cost comparison at a glance
On a 30,000-bird broiler operation losing 1,200 kg per cycle, the cumulative rendering cost over a single AIS Cyclone's service life routinely exceeds 3× the unit's capital cost.
- Rendering: £0.20–0.40 per kg + collection fee, every week, indefinitely.
- Incineration: £0.05–0.12 per kg in fuel + amortised capital over 10–15 years.
- Composting: ~£0.02 per kg operating, but very high land and time cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is composting cheaper than incineration?+
Operationally yes, but it's not legal for many species in the UK and pathogen kill is unreliable. Most commercial farms cannot use it as a primary route.
What's the payback period on an incinerator?+
For most UK poultry and swine operations the unit pays back against rendering fees in 3–5 years.