The landfills in 100 Mile House, Big Lake and Gibraltar Mines, each of which falls under the purview of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), passed CFIA reviews to handle brains, eyeballs, spines and other such cattle tissues that can carry the protein known to cause mad cow disease, thus sparing local ranchers a potentially crippling disposal expense.

Collectively, that matter is known as specified risk material (SRM). As of July 12, permits are required to transport, accept and dispose of it, a measure the CFIA hopes will produce a tracking and maintenance control apparatus powerful enough to keep SRM out of livestock feed, pet food and fertilizer.

“The landfill is part of the whole enhanced feed ban to make sure we’re tracking all of the SRM that’s generated in the country,” said Margaret Fisher, a veterinary program specialist with CFIA. “Part of the tracking is to know where it ends up.”

Landfills, she said, are a suitable containment option.

“There are certain protocols that would have to be put in place, but, from an environmental point of view, the site has the capability to ensure that the bad things from SRM would be contained,” said Mitch Minchau,

CRD manager of environmental services. “The process that has to be developed is the slaughter house has to bring the material in under

CFIA rules, and, when they bring it to our facility, the material has to be logged in. Then that immediately goes to the treatment part of the landfill. It can go to the regular landfill – it’s just a question of how quickly its covered up.”

Source: 100 Mile House Free Press