Disposal Methods And Environmental Concerns Producers most commonly use burial pits for the disposal of poultry carcasses. However, when residue remains in pits after years of use or in soils with high groundwater tables, reduced surface and groundwater quality is a serious potential problem. In some states, such as Arkansas, legislation has been enacted to prohibit the use of burial pits. Incineration is biologically the safest method of disposal. However, it is slow, expensive, and generates nuisance complaints even when highly efficient incinerators are used.
Incinerators also generate particulate air pollution.
Concern over possible environmental damage and newly imposed local, state, and federal water and air quality regulations make alternative disposal methods of interest to the producer. Poultry Carcass Composting Testing and adoption of composting as a method for the disposal of poultry carcasses began in Alabama in the late 1980s. Since 1989, Alabama poultry farmers have constructed more than 500 freestanding carcass composters. Poultry producers have readily accepted the composting of poultry carcasses, but operating the composter requires a tractor with loader for loading, turning, and removing the compost. About 50 percent of the 6,000 Alabama broiler farms fall into this last category.