Is It Legal to Burn Trash
Burning garbage or construction rubble is illegal. These include: Most burns are illegal in an Urban Growth Area (UG). An urban growth area is land used for urban development in and around communities. Even if you live outside the city limits, you can still live in an area of urban growth. Land outside an urban growth area (such as agricultural, rural and natural lands) is protected from urban sprawl. Where you live determines whether you can burn. To protect air quality, we monitor the incineration of property debris and household waste. If you live outside an urban growth area, you may have limited burning. Authorized burning includes: Barrels of fuel are illegal throughout the country. A fire in a barrel fire produces toxic smoke that stays deep on the ground. This toxic smoke is bad for your health.
If you see illegal burns or smoke entering your home, report illegal burns. Chemicals from household waste incineration can include hydrocyanic acid, sulphur dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, lead, mercury and dioxin. Particulate matter, which contains a variety of chemicals, can have both acute and chronic health effects on those exposed, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma). Long-term and repeated exposure to some of the chemicals emitted during waste incineration has been shown to impair neurodevelopment in children, the immune system, the reproductive system and thyroid function. Certain pollutants have been shown to contribute to the development of diabetes and cancer. Many of these emitted pollutants can remain in the environment, resulting in future exposures to humans and wildlife. People who openly incinerate household waste as their primary disposal method are often exposed to these hazardous substances. People who live in the area (i.e. neighbors within several hundred feet) will also be frequently exposed to these hazardous substances. You can be fined up to $10,000 per day for illegal incineration. Try composting your yard waste instead of burning it. Public Law 102 of 2012 was promulgated on 19 April 2012 and prohibits the open incineration of household waste containing plastic, rubber, foam, chemically treated wood, textiles, electronics, chemicals or hazardous materials.
The incineration of this household waste poses a risk to human health and the environment. The Act amends the open burning provisions of Article 11522 of Public Law 451 of 1994. The Act contains penal provisions that may be enforced by local authorities in the absence of a local ordinance. Use the map to check if you are in an urban growth area: If you live in an urban growth area, you can only have a recreational fire or tumbleweed. Map of Urban Growth Areas (UGAs). Go to the full map.
