Pet Ashes Law: What is the law on burying or scattering cremated pet ashes?

Pet Ashes Law: What is the law on burying or scattering cremated pet ashes?

Sadly unlike human ashes, animal cremains are considered to be a ‘waste item’ in strictly legal terms. The law doesn’t take into account the amount you loved them. Thus they are covered by the law, you are allowed to bury or scatter the ashes in your garden as long as you own the property.

If your pet has been cremated then you will not need to worry about whether or not it is deemed to be hazardous.

Scattering their ashes, is a different issue and theoretically is not allowed however public bodies such as a local authority or the Environment Agency have to take a proportionate approach and if it is not causing a nuisance they will turn a blind eye.

Let me give you an example, pouring the remains of a pet over neighbours fence would prompt action, but a dusting over a wide expanse such as moorland or the sea would not. It is about being considerate.

Over time the ashes will ingrate into the soil, the more thinly spread and closer to the surface they are, the faster this will happen.