swill

Swill is a term used to describe edible food waste and scraps that would otherwise be discarded. In agriculture and historical urban life, swill often referred to kitchen and restaurant leftovers collected for feeding livestock, especially pigs. The leftovers were sometimes collected in a swill bucket and delivered to farms.

Swill feeding refers to the practice of feeding pigs with such leftovers. The feed's composition varies widely and can include bread, cereals, fruit and vegetable scraps, dairy by-products, and other edible residues. In some places, meat, dairy, or other animal-by-products were historically included; many jurisdictions now prohibit or tightly regulate such ingredients because they can carry pathogens or contaminated materials. When allowed, swill intended for pigs is typically heat-treated or otherwise processed to reduce health risks, or it is limited to specific sources.

Because unsanctioned swill disposal can attract pests and contribute to waste-management problems, swill handling is often governed by waste or agricultural regulations. In modern farming, many producers rely on formulated feeds that meet nutritional standards, while swill-based feeding is confined to approved programs in some regions.