Sep
13
2015
Burning Garbage Trashes the Air
Did you know that burning trash and yard waste in a fireplace or stove, outdoors on the ground, or in a burn barrel or an incinerator is unhealthy and illegal?
YOU WILL BE CITED BY SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT AND FOR OUR RESPONSE SERVICES.
Trash often contains plastics, metals, and synthetic materials that create dangerous chemicals when burned. Chemicals found in smoke can include lead and other compounds known to cause respiratory problems, stress immune systems and even cause cancer. The leftover ash also can contain toxic pollutants that can spread into soil and water. As a result, Air District Rules 4103 (open burning) and 4106 (prescribed burning and hazard reduction burning) prohibit burning yard waste and garbage. Minimal dispersion, low combustion temperatures, low oxygen all contribute to increased pollutant emissions from burn barrels. In fact, a USEPA study suggests that up to forty households using burn barrels (depending on the material and amount being burned) can emit levels of dioxin and furn comparable to a 200 ton-per-day municipal waste incinerator.
Read more: Burning Garbage Is Illegal!