OPEN BURNING LIMITS

 
   

What Is It?

Open burning regulations refer to limits on any outdoor fire or outdoor smoke-producing process from which the products of combustion are emitted directly into the open air. Open burning is typically conducted using burn barrels, screened pits, backyard incinerators, and just plain "piling up" of refuse, trash, yard trimmings or leaves. Open burning regulations can be a controversial topic. Those who favor burning feel that it is their right to burn their trash in their own backyard. Those opposed to burning cite health issues, including asthma and other respiratory problems, along with nuisance concerns, as reasons open burning should be regulated in a community. It is up to each jurisdiction to limit, minimize, and manage open burning through ordinances.

Shared Impact and Benefits

  • Limiting the amount of open burning will help improve air quality, as it lowers the amount of particle pollution and toxins released into the atmosphere.

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  • Open burning limits will also reduce ground-level ozone by reducing nitrogen oxides produced during the combustion process.

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  • It also improves water quality and wildlife ecology as fewer toxins return to the earth through acid rain.

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  • Open burning is a major contributor to regional haze, such as blankets the mountains and obscures the view. By limiting open burning, jurisdictions can have an impact on haze.

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  • Limitations on open burning also have a safety impact, because open burning can sometimes lead to structural and wilderness fires that destroy property and sometimes cause injury or death.

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Costs

Expenses include staff time for education and ordinance development, and marketing costs for informational programs. If open burning is prohibited, the jurisdiction will need to develop alternatives for disposition of waste, whether curb-side trash pickup policy that includes yard waste, or a compost bin program.

   
 

This Action Item can be implemented as a

POLICY
ORDINANCE
PROGRAM

 

How long does this take to implement?

Because open burning regulation impacts everyone, it may take six months to a year to adopt an ordinance and implement the program.

   

  • Restrictions on open burning will benefit the entire community in terms of reducing health and fire hazards, and will contribute incrementally to cleaner air for the region.
  • After initial implementation, these restrictions will make a difference with minimal ongoing expenditure.