TOOLS YOU CAN USE
You can find information on backyard burning and
successful programs by using the following resources:
Backyard Burning Web Site
www. epa. gov/msw/backyard
This site provides facts and information; links to state,
local, and other backyard burning Web sites; and
brochures and presentations that can be customized
and reproduced to discourage residents from burning
household waste.
Dioxin Web Site
www. epa. gov/ncea/dioxin. htm
This site provides in-depth information on the Dioxin
Reassessment report, the Dioxin Exposure Initiative,
EPA analytical methods, and EPA regulations. The
Web site also gives answers to frequently asked ques-
tions about dioxin and features a database of sources
of environmental releases of dioxin-like compounds in
the United States.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) Call Center
800 424-9346 or 703 412-9810 in the
Washington, DC area
TDD: 800 553-7672 or 703 412-3323
Additional brochures and more information on back-
yard burning can be obtained by calling this toll-free
number.
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State and Local
Governments An
Key to J
Reducing
Backyard
Burning
8ackyard burning of garbage is an
outdated practice that should be
discontinued. Burning household
trash and garbage in burn barrels, open
piles, or in indoor or outdoor stoves or
furnaces is still practiced in many rural
areas. This practice is a major source
of dioxin and other toxic emissions,
damaging both our health and our
environment.
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Since stringent controls have
been placed on municipal,
medical, and hazardous waste
incinerators, backyard burn-
ing is now the largest quanti-
fied source of dioxin from the
combustion of waste.
BACKYARD BURNING is A
HEALTH HAZARD
Current evidence indicates that backyard burning is
a more serious threat to public health and the envi-
ronment than previously believed.
Burning household
waste produces
toxic chemicals,
including dioxins.
Dioxins are formed
when products con-
taining carbon and
chlorine are
burned. Open burning
of household waste creates significant amounts of
dioxins due to the low combustion temperatures,
poor air distribution, and the presence of chlorine,
which is found in almost all household waste com-
ponents. Backyard burning of household waste is
one of the largest known sources of dioxin in the
nation.
Dioxins are highly toxic even at extremely low lev-
els, and have been linked to serious health prob-
lems in humans. These include cancer and adverse
developmental and reproductive effects.
Dioxins accumulate in the food chain. Airborne
dioxins can settle onto feed crops, which are then
eaten by domestic meat and dairy animals. These
dioxins accumulate in the fats of animals, and then
in humans when we consume meat, fish, and dairy
products.
In addition to dioxins, smoke from the open burning
of waste contains a variety of harmful pollutants,
including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, lead, mer-
cury, and hexachlorobenzene. Breathing these pollu-
tants can damage your lungs, nervous system, kid-
neys, and liver. Not only are the people who burn
trash at an increased risk, but so are their families and
neighbors.
Ash from backyard burning is also likely to contain
toxic pollutants, which can contaminate vegetables if
scattered in gardens. Children can accidentally swal-
low some toxic materials after dirt gets on their
hands while playing near discarded ash.
SUCCESSFULLY REDUCING
BACKYARD BURNING
In response to growing health concerns, states
are taking steps to curb backyard burning. Here
are just a few examples. More information can
be found on EPA's backyard burning Web site.
.
• The northeastern states of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and New Jersey have statewide
bans on backyard burning of household waste.
• California recently enacted strict backyard
trash burning regulations.
• New York distributes brochures on the
hazards of backyard burning at state and
county fairs.
• Wisconsin uses its Web site and other education-
al materials to campaign against illegal burning
of wastes.
Local governments are also taking action:
• In Chisago County, Minnesota, residents
turning in burn barrels and signing up for
waste collection receive six months of service
at half-price.
• Forsyth County strictly enforces North
Carolina's statewide ban against burning
garbage, penalizing first-time offenders with
fines ranging from $100 to $10,000.
• Webster City, Iowa, residents enlisted doctors
to speak at city council meetings about their
experiences treating patients affected by open
burning. This helped council members enact a
new local burning ban ordinance, even in the
face of strong opposition by some residents.
DIOXIN IN Wi FOOD CHAIN
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Work to provide residents with convenient,
affordable alternatives to backyard burning.
Many areas are successfully changing this
practice using some of the following meth-
ods:
Promote Alternatives to Backyard
Burning
• Establish and promote free or low-cost
drop-off centers for residents who want to
self-haul or recycle.
• Create a burn barrel exchange program to
provide disposal service discounts to partic-
ipants while educating them regarding dis-
posal alternatives.
• Distribute information on public or com-
mercial collection, recycling, and disposal
services.
Educate Residents
• Conduct outreach programs to change
behavior, such as print or radio ads and
brochures (available from EPA as templates
for your own modifications).
Regulate and Enforce
• Establish and enforce effective regulations
and ordinances.
• Train county police, fire marshalls, and
health and environmental inspectors on
local ordinances and authorize them to
issue fines, as well as educate residents.
The benefits of taking action against backyard
burning extend beyond reducing health prob-
lems. In addition to being a nuisance to
neighbors, backyard burning is a major
source of property fires. Wisconsin estimates
that about one-third of its forest fires are
caused by open burning. Moreover, backyard
burning can hinder state and municipal efforts
to meet air quality standards.
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