Modern poultry farming is a high-intensity industry that provides affordable dietary meat to the population.

However, there is a flip side to this coin: the huge amount of organic pollution. Every year, Russia’s poultry factories produce millions of tons of chicken dung. Its traditional stockpiling at polygons and use as fertilizer without prior processing poses a serious environmental threat that, for all that, becomes a direct constraint to expanding production capacity.

As emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, the development of modern technologies for waste disposal is an important element of ensuring environmental safety in the country. As part of the national project, a network of modern waste-processing facilities using advanced environmentally sound technologies is to be established.

The Vice Prime Minister noted that they pay special attention to monitoring environmental compliance. He emphasized that all new facilities must meet the highest safety standards and have minimum environmental impact [1].

In this article, we will consider how modern recycling technologies compliant with legislation not only remove environmental risks but also open the way for sustainable business growth.

Activities related to the treatment of bird’s manure are strictly regulated by Russian legislation. Ignoring these norms leads to large fines, suspension of activities and criminal liability. The head of Rosnaturnadzor, Svetlana Radionova, has repeatedly emphasized this issue: «For fines I believe that for legal entities this increase is ten times. These should be tangible fines. There should be no willingness to pay now or later. There must be an understanding that it is far more profitable to invest this money in the development of the company and compliance with environmental requirements than to pay fines. [1].

Key regulations include:

1. Federal Law 89-FZ "On Production and Consumption Waste". Defines waste waste as production waste (usually III-IV class of hazard). Requires waste identification, which obliges the enterprise to identify its hazard class and comply with the rules of handling. Establishes the principle of rationing: the enterprise must have and comply with PNAART (draft regulations for waste generation and limits on their placement).

2. Federal Law 7-FZ "On environmental protection". Prohibits the pollution of the environment with waste. Requires businesses to pay a fee for negative environmental impact (NZEP). Proper disposal allows this fee to be significantly reduced or avoided.

3. SANPi 1.2.3685-21 "Hygiene regulations and requirements for ensuring the safety and (or) harmlessness of habitat factors to humans". Establish strict regulations on the content of pathogenic micro-organisms, helminth eggs and heavy metals in soil, water and air. Improper storage of droppings inevitably leads to excess amounts.

4. Land code of the Russian Federation and Water code of the Russian Federation.
Prohibit the pollution of land and water resources.

5. Federal law "On livestock by-products and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation" dated 14.07.2022 N 248-FZ: establishes differences between livestock by-products (SPV) and waste.

6. Government Decree dated 31.10.2022 N 3256-p "On the approval of a list of violations of requirements for the handling of livestock by-products, as a result of which livestock by-products are recognized as waste" determines that the transfer of PW to non-farmers is a violation resulting in PW being recognized as waste.

7. Federal law of 19.07.1997 N 109-FZ (amended from 28.12.2024) "On the safe handling of pesticides and agrochemicals" establishes that livestock by-products are not agrochemicals (fertilizers).

8. Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 31, 2022 N 1940 "On approval of requirements for the use of livestock by-products"

1. Environmental pollution.
Soil and groundwater: Fresh manure contains high concentrations of nitrates, phosphorus, pathogenic microflora, and helminth eggs. When released into soil and water bodies, it causes eutrophication (algal blooms), rendering water sources inapplicable for use.
Atmosphere: As it decomposes, manure releases large amounts of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and methane—fragrant greenhouse gases that pollute the air within a radius of several kilometers.

2. Epidemiological threats.
Unprocessed manure is a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria (salmonella, E. coli) and weed seeds.

3. Low efficiency of direct application.
Using fresh manure as a fertilizer is problematic due to:

• High risk of "burning" plant roots due to active fermentation processes and ammonia release.
• Unbalanced composition and the inability to accurately dose nutrients..
• Seasonal application and complex logistics and storage.

4. limitations for development.
It's important to note, that existing manure accumulation volumes often become the main obstacle to obtaining permits for farm expansion or the construction of new poultry houses. Resolving the waste disposal problem is key to removing administrative and environmental barriers to business development.

There are several ways to process chicken manure (RD-APK 1.10.15.02-17):

Composting: A classic but slow method that requires large areas and does not guarantee complete disinfection.

Anaerobic digestion: Biogas production. Effective, but requires high capital investment and sophisticated equipment.

Granulation: Production of slow-release fertilizers. Often requires pre-drying of the raw materials.

High-temperature drying: The fastest and most technologically advanced method that allows not only disinfection, but also increasing the value of the final product.

The unit in question, with a 20 m³ drying drum, demonstrates high productivity. It can process up to 30 tons of raw manure per day. This allows medium and large poultry farms to completely recycle all generated waste, turning it into revenue.

The key result is that the implementation of such recycling measures directly addresses production expansion issues. The company receives official approval to increase its livestock production by demonstrating to regulatory authorities a safe and effective waste management technology that complies with Federal Laws No. 89 and No. 7. The complex is transformed from a cost item into an investment in future growth and a tool for mitigating legal risks.

The final product of production is by-products of animal husbandry that comply with the requirements of the Federal Law "On by-products of animal husbandry and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation".
By-products of livestock farming are not waste, except in cases where violations of the requirements for the handling of by-products of livestock farming are established within the framework of federal state control (supervision) in the field of veterinary medicine and (or) federal state land control (supervision) on agricultural lands.
Requirements for processing and reprocessing are established by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 31, 2022 No. 1940 “On approval of requirements for the handling of livestock by-products”.
A certificate from a laboratory accredited in accordance with the procedure established by the Russian Federation legislation on accreditation in the national accreditation system confirming the conformity of livestock by-products with the requirements of paragraphs 15-16 of the Resolution is required.
Also, for the sale of livestock by-products, technical specifications approved by their manufacturer are required, defining the characteristics of the livestock by-products, their processing methods, handling conditions, control methods, and safety requirements.
The transfer of livestock by-products is permitted only to legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, and unincorporated peasant (farmer) households engaged in agricultural production. However, the transfer of livestock by-products that do not meet the requirements of paragraphs 15 and 16 of the requirements for the handling of livestock by-products, approved by Russian Government Resolution No. 1940 of October 31, 2022, "On Approval of Requirements for the Handling of Livestock By-Products," to persons not engaged in agricultural production, will constitute grounds for classifying the by-products as waste. Therefore, provided these requirements are met, the sale of livestock by-products is possible, including for processing. In this case, the transfer must be specified as for the purpose of processing.

Compliance with legislation.
Guaranteed compliance with Rosprirodnadzor and Rospotrebnadzor requirements.

Removing of growth restrictions.
Allows for legal and environmentally friendly expansion of production capacity.

Double environmental benefit.
Simultaneous recycling of hen manure and wood waste.

Fuel savings.
Use inexpensive wood waste instead of expensive natural gas or electricity.

Fully automated and low operating costs.
Operation is performed by just two operators.

Commercial production.
Production of dry organic fertilizer and liquid ammonia water.

Closed-loop and zero-waste.
The technology is aimed at zero-waste production.

The problem of hen manure disposal in modern Russia presents a complex set of legal, environmental, and business challenges. An automated system based on a reverse pyrolysis heat generator using wood waste is more than just a waste disposal solution. It is a strategic asset that addresses a range of issues: it ensures compliance with environmental legislation, removes administrative barriers to expansion, creates new marketable products, recycles waste from related industries, and significantly increases profitability.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted in a video address on the occasion of Agricultural Worker's Day, Russia needs to more widely introduce domestic equipment and machinery into its agricultural sector, as well as develop promising nature-based technologies to strengthen the technological capabilities of the agro-industrial complex. "I emphasize that this is our strategic goal. And, crucially, it must be achieved by strengthening the sector's technological capabilities. To achieve this, we must more widely introduce domestic equipment and agricultural machinery, develop land reclamation, selection, and genetics, as well as promising nature-based technologies that will allow us to preserve and replenish the unique wealth of our arable land, farmland, and ecosystems, preserving them for future generations," Putin emphasized. [3].