Agricultural waste

Agricultural waste is the material generated by crop growing, harvesting and the upkeep of farms. It is mostly organic (plant residues, prunings, manure) but also includes inorganic fractions such as greenhouse plastics, crop-protection product containers and infrastructure debris.

Agriculture is a strategic sector in Spain, both for its economic weight and for the area under cultivation (more than 23 million hectares). As a result, the volume of agricultural waste is very high and poses significant management challenges, but it also offers opportunities for recovery through composting, bioenergy and plastics recycling.

Legal definition

Spain's Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy places agricultural waste in the non-hazardous category, except for items contaminated with toxic substances, such as crop-protection containers.

At European level, the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) sets out obligations for the prevention, collection and recovery of agricultural waste within the circular economy.

Types of agricultural waste

Biodegradable organic waste

• Crop residues (straw, stalks, leaves).
• Prunings from fruit trees and vineyards.
• Manure and slurry from mixed farms.

Agricultural plastics

• Greenhouse films.
• Nets and mulching films.
• Drip-irrigation tubing.

Crop-protection and fertiliser containers

• Contaminated bottles, drums and sacks.
• These are classed as hazardous waste and must be handled through specific schemes.

Inert infrastructure waste

• Posts, wire and rigid plastics.

Regulatory framework

• Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC).
• Regulation (EU) No 1357/2014, on hazardous waste properties.
• Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils.
• Royal Decree 1055/2022 on packaging and packaging waste.
• Regional and sector-specific rules on agricultural management.

Management systems for agricultural waste

Composting and anaerobic digestion

• Pruning and crop residues turned into compost or biogas through processes such as anaerobic digestion.
• Lower emissions than uncontrolled burning.

Recycling of agricultural plastics

• Separate collection at source.
• Recyclers converting used plastics into recycled pellets.

Extended producer responsibility schemes

• SIGFITO: the collective scheme in Spain for crop-protection and fertiliser containers.
• It collected more than 4,500 tonnes of agricultural containers in 2023, with volumes rising in subsequent years.

Energy recovery

• Using agricultural residues in biomass plants.

On-farm reuse

• Shredded plant residues returned to the soil as organic matter.

Risks of poor management

• Uncontrolled burning: CO2 and particulate emissions and a risk of fires.
• Plastic dumping in the environment: contamination of soils and ecosystems.
• Poor handling of crop-protection containers: contamination of water and soil.
• Landscape impact: accumulation of agricultural waste in rural areas.

Benefits of good management

Environmental

• Lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Less contamination of soils and aquifers.
• Improved soil fertility through composting.

Economic

• Savings on fertilisers by using compost and digestate.
• Income from the sale of biomass and biogas.
• Job creation in cooperatives and agricultural recycling firms.

Social

• Better quality of life in rural areas.
• Fewer conflicts caused by agricultural burning.
• A more positive image of the farming sector on sustainability.

Relation to the circular economy

Agricultural waste is a strategic resource within the circular economy:

• Plant residues become compost and biomass.
• Greenhouse plastics are recycled into new products.
• Crop-protection containers are handled through extended producer responsibility schemes.

Spain's National Circular Economy Strategy 2030 sets targets to recover agricultural residues and reduce their disposal. At Manglai we help companies measure their environmental footprint and prepare their sustainability reporting. Discover how Manglai can help you.