Guidelines for waste service providers on the disposal of dead wildlife during H5N1 avian influenza response

August 2026

Purpose of this guide

NOTE: These guidelines do not apply to the disposal of commercial poultry waste generated as part of control and eradication activities in a biosecurity emergency response.

These guidelines support waste service providers to manage the transport, receipt and disposal of waste that contains wildlife carcasses, contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) and other animal by-products during a declared H5N1 avian influenza (H5 bird flu) response in Victoria. The guidelines apply to:

• local governments providing waste services
• businesses involved in waste collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal
• landfill operators
• government waste management contract holders.

While H5 bird flu primarily affects birds, some mammal species are also susceptible to the disease. For simplicity, these guidelines will use the term 'wildlife' to describe both avian and mammal species.

The guidelines focus on the role of waste service providers responsible for safe handling, transport and disposal of waste containing affected wildlife. Decisions about whether wildlife should be removed will be made by land managers in consultation with emergency control agencies.

Where circumstances fall outside the scope of these guidelines, or where further clarification is required, waste service providers should seek advice from the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

H5 bird flu

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza (commonly called H5 bird flu) is a serious and highly contagious disease spreading globally, causing widescale death of poultry, wild birds and some other species of wildlife, such as seals and dolphins.

H5 bird flu differs from other avian influenza strains in that it can cause mass mortality in many wild birds. There is no effective treatment for H5 bird flu and the prognosis for birds and some mammals affected with the disease is poor.

H5 bird flu rarely spreads to humans, but this may occur if there is close contact with infected birds, droppings or heavily contaminated environments. The Department of Health publishes information on human health risks from H5 bird flu at Department of Health - Avian-influenza-bird-flu.

As H5 bird flu is highly infectious and can be spread by the movement of birds, people and equipment, biosecurity practices are crucial to minimise further disease spread. Agriculture Victoria hosts the best source of information on H5 bird flu at AgVic H5N1 avian influenza .

Preparing for H5 bird flu

Waste service providers should review organisational policies, Environment Protection Act 2017 (EP Act) obligations, and occupational health and safety (OH&S) guidelines to ensure alignment with any requirements.

Advice from these guidelines should be incorporated into Emergency Response Plans or Incident Management Plans, where they are in place.

Stay up to date

During an emergency animal disease response like H5 bird flu, the situation is dynamic and therefore advice on where and to whom restrictions apply, may change. It is important that waste service providers keep up-to-date and are aware of changing restrictions and advice.

For latest advice on bird flu and quarantine restrictions

• Check the Agriculture Victoria site on H5N1 avian influenza.
• Check the Agriculture Victoria live information about any Emergency animal disease outbreaks, including infected areas, control areas or restricted area declarations.
• You can also check this information on VicEmergency - emergency.vic.gov.au/respond.

For waste management advice and requirements

• Check the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website.

Operating waste services during a H5 bird flu response

With H5 bird flu having arrived in Australia, waste facilities should notify relevant staff within their organisation, check the Agriculture Victoria and EPA websites and understand if any restrictions apply.

Safely dispose of dead wildlife during a H5 bird flu response

The preferred approach for land managers and the public is to leave dead wildlife in place to decompose naturally unless public safety or amenity risks exist. Where it is not possible to leave wildlife carcasses to decompose naturally, land managers will need to safely dispose of carcasses. Landfill will be a major pathway for disposal. Other pathways include on-site burial and composting.

Note: EPA does not recommend composting by the public or taking dead wildlife to commercial composting facilities because they may not have appropriate controls in place to protect human health.

Agriculture Victoria provides guidelines for land managers for disposal arrangements when H5 bird flu is present in Victoria and there is expected to be an increase in wildlife mortalities: Guidelines for managing wildlife infected with H5 bird flu on public land.

Classify dead wildlife correctly

Dead wildlife infected with H5 bird flu is not subject to biosecurity arrangements. It is therefore not classified as reportable priority waste under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (EP Act).

Under the waste classification framework in Environment Protection Regulations 2021 waste code T340 only applies to ‘Quarantine and Biosecurity Waste’ associated with infected poultry or livestock. It does not apply to wildlife because wildlife is not a biosecurity waste, as the disease cannot be eradicated in the wild, so can be managed as municipal waste or industrial waste.

Although not subject to biosecurity controls, wildlife infected with H5 bird flu still pose a risk to human health and other animals.

Dead wildlife and PPE may be collected through municipal services

Any deceased wildlife collected by a local council, or on behalf of a local council as part of their standard waste management processes, would be Municipal Waste. This waste must be taken to a lawful place but no permit under the EP Act is required to transport the waste. A lawful place includes a landfill permitted to take municipal waste. (Appendix 1: Licensed landfills).

For waste entering landfill via general waste (red lid bin), ensure double bagging and safe handling prior to disposal. Standard landfill controls for putrescible waste should be applied, such as promptly covering waste, managing leachate and landfill gas, and controlling odour, litter and vermin.

Dead wildlife and PPE may be collected from businesses and land managers

Any deceased wildlife collected by a different public land manager or a business would be Industrial Waste. This would include when a local council has contracted the clean-up of dead birds to another business (i.e. due to the volume and/or scale of the clean up being beyond the capacity of their standard waste management processes). This waste must be taken to a lawful place but no permit under the EP Act is required to transport the waste. A lawful place includes a landfill permitted to take putrescible industrial waste. (Appendix 1a: Municipal and Industrial Landfills).

EPA advice on duties and obligations to manage industrial waste under the EP Act and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 is available at Understand your waste obligations and duties | epa.vic.gov.au.

Landfill operators should use appropriate risk controls

Landfill operators and those managing the dead wildlife should consider exposure pathways for staff (see useful links to such advice) and the pathways leading to offsite impacts. The main risks to consider include pathogen exposure, increased contaminant loading to leachate, increased leachate and landfill gas generation, bioaerosols, odour, vermin and contaminated equipment.

During an H5 bird flu response, there is a heightened need for good disease vector control at landfills.

For large volumes of dead wildlife, landfill operators should implement risk-based controls, including:

• Confirm the waste can be accepted under the correct authorisation, with Type 2 lined landfills preferred where possible.
• Place carcasses directly into an approved landfill cell — do not stockpile them outside the cell.
• Place carcass waste away from cell edges, preferably in areas of the cell with greater waste depth present.
• Keep carcass disposal separate from normal tipping operations where practicable and restrict access to essential workers only.
• Cover carcasses as soon as practicable with more than 0.3 m of soil, inspect daily, and only compact after cover is in place.
• Control vermin and scavenging, disinfect trucks/equipment, and avoid tipping during windy conditions.
• Record the burial location and date and avoid disturbing the disposal area for at least 6 months where possible.
• Review and update risk monitoring and management programs (RMMPs). This should address additional monitoring and management of leachate, landfill gas, groundwater, surface water and odour.
• Enact health and safety measures to protect onsite workers or visitors.

Ensure all personnel are trained regarding the hazard posed by H5 bird flu and their roles and responsibilities in implementing the controls.

The general environmental duty applies to H5 bird flu activities

In all cases of managing or handling waste disposal, the person in control of the waste must meet their obligations under the general environmental duty (GED), under the EP Act.

For disposal of wildlife carcasses, meeting the obligations of the GED should, at a minimum, include:

• Minimising the risk to human health from managing the waste, for example by using appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, a face mask and eye protection.
• Any businesses involved in the transport or disposal are made aware of the type of waste they are handing (i.e. potentially infected wildlife), the human health risks (infection) and environmental risks (e.g. odour) associated with that waste.

Further EPA advice is available on the General environmental duty.

Keep waste service workers healthy and safe

H5 bird flu is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Avian influenza infection is rare in people; however, people who have close or prolonged contact with infected birds or animals or their contaminated environments are at greater risk of infection.

When collecting and disposing of wildlife carcasses, those undertaking the activity should protect themselves and minimise risk of spreading the disease to new environments.

Key information for protecting yourself is available from:

• Australian Centre for Disease Control: National guidelines for avian influenza – protecting people who work with birds and wildlife
• Agriculture Victoria: Managing dead birds and wildlife on your land
• Victorian Department of Health: Avian influenza (bird flu)

If you are unable follow these guidelines or wish to take extra precautionary steps, you should consider avoiding close contact with pets and poultry for 48 hours after handling wildlife carcasses which might have H5 bird flu.

Report inappropriate disposal of wildlife carcasses

If there is concern that wildlife or other animal carcasses are being inappropriately disposed (e.g. incorrect waste stream) or if there is a suspected contamination or biosecurity risk, waste service providers should contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888 for advice.

Clean and disinfect vehicles and equipment

Waste service providers are encouraged to clean vehicles and equipment to reduce the spread of disease.

The following steps are encouraged:

• Wash any clothing or clean and disinfect any equipment or materials that may have touched the animal
• Wash your hands with soap and hot water or use an alcohol-based hand rub (60-80% ethanol) before and after handling wildlife carcasses.

Further details about how to clean and disinfect equipment and clothing are available at:

• Agriculture Victoria’s Information for farm visitors

Report sick or dead wildlife

If waste facilities notice a sudden increase in the number of wildlife carcasses being disposed in incoming waste streams, or observe sick or dead wildlife around facilities, this should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Report clusters (5 or more) of sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.

Report even one sick or dead:

• wild seabird, waterbird, shorebird or bird of prey (e.g. eagles, hawks)
• marine mammal (e.g. seal, sea lion, dolphin).
• Further information on the signs of H5 bird flu and reporting sick or dead wild birds can be found at Report sick or dead wild birds and wildlife.

If waste service providers have concerns about contamination or biosecurity risks, contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline for advice 1800 675 888.

Appendix 1a: Licensed landfills – municipal and industrial

List of landfills licensed to accept municipal and industrial waste, or municipal waste only*. This list is managed by EPA and subject to change.

(*Current at time of publication, August 2026).

Appendix 1b – Licensed landfills – municipal only