There is increasing pressure on farmers to safely store manures and fertilisers while ensuring no harm is caused to the environment.
New legislation requires all farmers to meet Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) standards — whether they are in an NVZ or not. Anyone applying herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides must hold an accredited certificate for their safe use and appropriate training for handling fertilisers and manures.
The rules surrounding the storage of fertilisers and manures fall under several key pieces of legislation, including:
- Storing Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil (SSAFO) Rules
- Control of Pollution Act 1989
- Dangerous Substances Regulations 1990
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What are the consequences of breaking these rules?
Inorganic fertiliser is extremely hazardous and can be explosive — accidents involving poor storage can lead to severe environmental, financial, and human losses. Organic manure is also highly polluting and can emit toxic gases, tragically killing two to three farmers in the UK every year.
Breaching these regulations is punishable by law, so full compliance is in your best interest. Below are our key recommendations.
Inorganic Fertiliser
- Store fertilisers in a secure place, away from public access and watercourses.
- Keep them away from heat sources and combustible materials such as straw or hay.
- Maintain a detailed inventory of fertiliser stock and report any losses or suspicious activity to the police.
- If storing 25 tonnes or more of ammonium nitrate (AN), you must legally notify your local fire brigade and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- Stack bags no higher than three high, overlapping for stability.
- Do not lift broken bags; use rounded forklift tines to avoid piercing.
- Store liquid fertilisers in lockable, watertight containers designed specifically for that purpose.
- Ensure all fertilisers and chemicals are clearly labelled.
Organic Manures
- Solid manure can be stored in temporary field heaps if it can be stacked safely and does not leak effluent.
- Keep heaps at least 10m away from surface water or land drains, and 50m from any spring, well, or borehole.
- Rotate locations annually — only return to a previous site after a two-year break.
- Ensure you have enough storage capacity for all liquid manures and dirty water from 1 October to 1 April (depending on slurry type).
- Explore available grant schemes to help cover slurry storage or divert clean water away from slurry areas.
- Train all operators properly — slurry tankers are prone to overturning when fully loaded, so handling requires care.
Our Solutions
At Cotterill Civils, we supply a wide range of slurry and fertiliser storage solutions, including tanks, cesspools, and lagoons.
Contact our expert team for tailored advice on safe storage and compliance by calling 0121 351 3230.
Alternatively, fill out our enquiry form: