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Disposal vessels (aka: disposal units, burial pits, dead pits, or mortality pits) were used in the past in North America for dead poultry. Decomposition occurs in a variety of ways; aerobic and anaerobic breakdown by microorganisms; consumption by insects such as blow flies; evaporation of water; and release of gases such as carbon dioxide. Previous disposal vessels had no bottoms, allowing leachate to reach groundwater and water quality concerns were documented.