Dive Brief:
- The state of Virginia increased its ability to deal with deer carcasses by installing two prototypes that break them down.
- The state studied the possibility of composting the animals due to the estimated 10,000-15,000 deer killed by vehicles annually.
- Composting the remains is less expensive than landfilling and other services, and many sites don't accept this form of waste, making disposal increasingly difficult.
Dive Insight:
According to Jean Bonhotal, the director of Cornell Waste Management Institute, other states have instituted similar programs. New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania, Georgia, West Virginia and Montana all compost deceased animals.
Virginia operates a forced-air system that speeds up the decomposition process. Remains are completely broken-down within a six-week to two-month timeframe.