Growing Greenup OPEN BURNING – HOW DOES IT APPLY TO ME?

Growing Greenup

OPEN BURNING – HOW DOES IT APPLY TO ME?

Anne Stephens

For The Ashland Beacon

Amanda Abnee Gumbert, Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension; Eric Byrd, Kentucky Business Environmental Assistance Program; Elizabeth Robb and Roberta Burnes, Kentucky Division for Air Quality; and Kate Shanks, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, authors.

Disposing of our waste items by open burning has been a way of life for many years. Many of us grew up with a backyard burn barrel, and some of us may still use such a disposal device. However, today’s waste contains more plastics and other synthetic materials than ever before. These materials release more harmful chemicals when burned than the cardboard and paper packaging of the past.

Open burning can negatively impact our environment and our health. Many respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and nervous system disorders have been linked to open burning. Children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of open burning.

Laws and Regulations

Kentucky’s open burning regulation applies to all Kentuckians, whether they are individual residents, large or small businesses, government entities, individual government officials, or a community of people. Local ordinances may be more stringent than state regulations but cannot be less stringent. Some open burning activities permitted by state law may be prohibited at the local level, so be sure to check with your local government concerning local ordinances before open burning.

The Kentucky Division for Air Quality does not issue burn permits. Some local fire departments may issue burn permits to people for outdoor burning. It is important to remember that a burn permit does not allow you to ignore state regulations, and it is up to you educate yourself about permissible open burning – regardless of whether you have a burn permit or not. Certain kinds of open burning may require additional approval.

Contact the Kentucky Division for Air Quality if you are:

• A fire department interested in conducting a live fire training involving the burning of a structure

• A local government wishing to stage a site for the open burning of large amounts of storm debris. [The Kentucky Division of Waste Management should also be contacted to approve storm debris staging and disposal sites.]

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF OPEN BURNING

What you need to know to protect your health and the environment.

Hazardous Pollutants

Smoke from burn barrels can pollute our air, water, and soil. This smoke may contain harmful pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, lead, mercury, volatile organic compounds, and corrosives. Ashes containing these same compounds can settle on lakes and rivers or be washed into streams during heavy rains.

These pollutants can have immediate and long-term health effects on you and your neighbors, including:

• Asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory illnesses

• Nervous system, kidney, or liver damage

• Reproductive or developmental disorders

• Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue

Dioxins are among the most dangerous contaminants emitted by open burning. Dioxins are highly toxic, long-lasting organic compounds. They are dangerous even at extremely low levels and have been linked to several health problems, including cancer, developmental or reproductive disorders, and birth defects.

Dioxins are formed when products containing carbon and chlorine are burned. Even very small amounts of chlorine can produce dioxins. Low levels of chlorine are present in most household materials. Because burn barrels do not have the same strict controls and high temperatures as municipal incinerators, barrel burning has the potential to release significant amounts of dioxins.

Exposure to Pollutants in the Food Chain

Dioxins accumulate in the food chain when these compounds settle onto feed crops or water supplies, which are then eaten by domestic meat and dairy animals. Dioxins accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, fish, and shellfish, and then in humans when we consume them or products made from them.

The ash residue from backyard burning can contain toxic pollutants, such as mercury, lead, chromium, and arsenic, which can contaminate vegetables if scattered in gardens. Children can swallow toxic materials from dirt on their hands while playing near discarded ash.

OPEN BURNING OF THESE ITEMS IS PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES:

Agriculture

Animal bedding Hay muck piles (horse manure/hay)

Construction

Asbestos materials

Buildings (houses, barns, trailers, and garages)

Construction debris

Demolition debris

Drywall

Shingles

Wood Materials

Fence posts

Painted wood

Furniture

Pallets

Sawdust

Treated wood

Wood chips and shavings

Wood mulch

Chemical Containers

Agricultural (fertilizer, pesticide, etc.)

Household rubbish (including aerosol cans)

Miscellaneous

Coated wire

Insulation Garbage (defined as putrescible animal or vegetable matter.)

Motor oil

Plastic

Rubber Tires

Used oil

Waste - Generated by businesses, schools, hospitals, churches, and farms

ALTERNATIVES TO OPEN BURNING:

Reduce

• Purchase wisely and avoid buying products that are overly packaged.

• Purchase items that contain recycled material.

• Buy only items you really need.

• Buy as few items containing hazardous materials as possible.

• Take advantage of a “community bank,” a system of tools and materials that are available for a community’s use. If your community does not have one available, think about starting one.

Reuse

• Find art schools or technical vocational schools to reuse metals, wire, and other material for educational or art projects.

• Have equipment and other items repaired instead of buying new ones.

Recycle

• Utilize recycling services that will accept aluminum, steel, copper, glass, paper, cardboard, and other products to reduce processing of raw material.

Composting

• Yard waste and most food scraps can be turned into nutrient-rich compost. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for more information.

Tire Collection Events

• The Kentucky Division of Waste Management offers free waste tire collection events for Kentucky residents. These events occur every three years on a rotating basis for each county. Learn more at https://eec.ky.gov/WasteTires .

Household Hazardous Waste Drives

• Look for local household hazardous waste drives sponsored by your county solid waste coordinator. Check local listings or visit eec.ky.gov/RLA to find your solid waste coordinator.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Rinse and Return Program

• Farmers are encouraged to participate in this program by rinsing their pesticide containers and taking them to designated drop-off locations for recycling. Visit https://www.kyagr.com/consumer/pest-and-recycling.html to learn more.

Freecycle

• The Freecycle Network is a grassroots effort that is a mechanism for trading goods. Once connected to a network, people can post the items they would like to give away for free or can use the site to find items. This keeps items such as old furniture, clothing, housewares, etc., from ending up in a burn barrel. Check out https://www.freecycle.org/.

Fundraisers

• Fundraisers that require people to collect recyclables such as cell phones and ink cartridges are a great way to keep these items out of burn barrels while raising money for important causes. Do an online search using keywords such as “environmental fundraisers” for more information.

Donate

• Give usable items to charitable organizations such as thrift stores, reuse centers, churches, community centers, etc.

Take Waste to an Approved Landfill

• And when all other options are exhausted, take waste material to an approved solid waste land fill. DO NOT LITTER

This publication is a product of the Environmental and Natural Resource Issues Task Force Air Quality Focus Group. The focus group includes partners from the Kentucky Environmental Compliance Assistance Program, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, the Kentucky Division for Air Quality, and the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Tables, checklists, graphics, and 401 KAR 63:005 Section 3 and 4 specifics can be found in the full publication, available at your local Extension Office.

For more information and/or a hard copy of this entire publication, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606-836-0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu Greenup County Cooperative Extension Service, 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144. This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.