Open Burning Violators Help Prevent Further Violations
RALEIGH -- Violators of North Carolina’s open burning rule are helping to educate the public and prevent further violations by placing ads about the law in local newspapers.
With the heading “Don’t Get Burned,” the ads warn readers that they can receive stiff penalties for illegal burning. Many people do not realize that it’s against the law to burn trash, lumber and other materials. State law prohibits open burning because the smoke can cause serious health problems and pollute the air.
“Some people think it’s OK to burn trash in barrels because they’ve always done it that way, but it’s not,” says Keith Overcash, deputy director of the state Division of Air Quality. “Others think it’s always OK to burn leaves and branches. But it’s not allowed in cities and counties that pick up yard waste.”
The Division of Air Quality began the advertising effort as a pilot program in Eastern North Carolina last fall to help educate the public about open burning and prevent violations. Under the program, violators of the burning rule can pay for ads in local newspapers instead of paying penalties. The ads generally cost less than the amount of the violators’ penalty assessments.
“With these ads, violators help spread the word about open burning, while receiving a break on their fines,” Overcash says. “The state benefits because the ads help us protect air quality and reduce the amount of time we spend investigating complaints about open burning.”
More than half of the division’s penalty cases involve open burning violations. Penalties average about $500 for first-time violations, but fines can run as high as $10,000 for serious cases. Under the open burning law, it’s illegal to burn:
• Garbage, paper and cardboard;
• Tires and other rubber products;
• Building materials, including lumber;
• Wire, plastics and synthetic materials;
• Asphalt shingles and heavy oils;
• Paints, and household and agricultural chemicals.
Homeowners can burn yard trimmings -- excluding logs and stumps -- if it’s allowed under local ordinances, no public pickup is available and it doesn’t cause a public nuisance. Other allowable burning includes campfires, outdoor barbecues and bonfires for festive occasions. Landowners may be allowed to burn vegetation to clear land or clean up storm damage, but they should check first with the Division of Air Quality. People seeking to burn also may need permits from the state Division of Forest Resources.
A free brochure describing what’s allowed and prohibited under the state open burning rule can be obtained by calling (919) 733-3340, or writing to the Division of Air Quality at P.O. Box 29580, Raleigh, NC, 27626-0580, Attn: Open Burning.
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Contact Person: Tom Mather (919) 715-7408.
Date Posted: April 17
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