Teurasjätteet

Teurasjätteet, a Finnish term often translated as "slaughterhouse waste" or "butchery by-products," refers to the organic materials derived from the processing of animals in abattoirs. These by-products can include a wide range of materials such as blood, fat, bones, organs, hides, and certain unusable parts of the animal carcass. Historically, the management of teurasjätteet presented significant environmental and disposal challenges.

In contemporary practice, teurasjätteet are increasingly recognized as valuable resources rather than mere waste. Through various processing methods, these materials can be transformed into a diverse array of useful products. For instance, animal fats and bones are often rendered into animal feed ingredients, gelatine, or biofuels like biodiesel. Blood can be processed into blood meal for fertilizer or as a protein supplement in animal feed. Hides are a primary source for leather production. Other by-products may be used for pet food, pharmaceutical ingredients, or in rendering processes to produce tallow and meat and bone meal.

The effective management and valorization of teurasjätteet are crucial for both economic efficiency and environmental sustainability within the meat industry. Proper handling minimizes waste, reduces landfill burden, and contributes to a circular economy by creating new product streams. Regulatory frameworks often govern the collection, processing, and disposal of these materials to ensure public health and safety standards are met.