Here is a video running through the issues and demonstrating the responsible attitude in the livestock transport industry, when comes to talking about the effluent issue on our roads.
The Effluent Code, which was developed to improve the situation, supplements the heavy vehicle safety and compliance guidance provided in the Master Code by specifically addressing livestock effluent related load restraint risks. The Code is a practical guide that assists livestock transporters and off road parties to comply with their primary duty and other duties under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
This issue is not going to go away, and the evidence that it is needed can be found on any major route into one of the many abattoirs dotted around the country. There are parking bays where livestock trucks pull up and release the contents of their effluent tanks, to avoid the contents spilling out onto the road when the truck is moving.
That sort of spillage can attract a fine, but the reasons behind the tanks being overflowing lie elsewhere. The consignors consistently ignore the rules around how long an animal must be off food and water before being loaded on a truck, resulting in excessive amounts of effluent.
The authorities on whose roads these loaded livestock trailers travel, will happily fine operators for an effluent spill, but will not provide the kind of facilities the industry needs to avoid the issue. Despite consistent lobbying there are never enough resources to get an effluent facility up and running. Only a few have actually appeared on our roads, but many more are needed if we are going to seriously tackle this issue.
This is not a high priority on the part of the governments involved, concerns about the livestock industry may not be a major political issue among their electorate.
However, it is a major issue for the trucking industry and for the environment. Initiatives like this need to be pushed harder and the facts about what is going on should be more clearly communicated with the general public.
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