Alaska Native Village Air Quality Fart Sheet Series
Solid Waste Burning
EPA 910-F-10-007
April 2014
United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
Why is burning solid waste a concern?
Solid Waste, another term for trash or garbage, is often burned in
rural Alaskan communities where better disposal methods are not
readily available.
The waste often contains plastic, Styrofoam, PVC, tires, electronic
waste (e-waste) and other things that produce particularly danger-
ous air pollution when burned. Such burning takes place in resi-
dential burn barrels, open dumps, burn units, and landfills.
What are the health effects of
burning trash?
Burning trash creates dangerous toxic smoke. This smoke has
many tiny particles which can get deep into lungs, potentially
increasing the risk of asthma, lung and heart disease, cancer, and
other cardiovascular problems.
People exposed to smoke are also believed to be at increased risk
of pneumonia and other infectious lung disease. Elders, children,
pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory diseases
(like asthma) are most at risk from breathing toxic smoke and
smoke particles.
The smoke typically contains "dioxins" which are highly toxic
pollutants known to cause cancer, as well as hundreds of other
contaminants which may cause or aggravate lung problems. This
pollution can be blown by the wind for some distance. When the
contaminants fall to the ground and settle on subsistence foods,
there is another opportunity for people, animals and plants to
come into contact with dangerous substances.
Why should burn barrels be avoided?
Burning trash in residential burn barrel is discouraged because it
produces toxic smoke near homes where it is most likely to impact
people. If used, burn barrels should be perforated near the base
to increase air flow and burn temperatures, and only used to burn
paper and yard waste, not plastics, rubber, or electronic waste.
Burning trash in a wood stove or steam bath concentrates the
toxic emissions in the indoor space and the smoke is even more
dangerous. Trash should never be burned as a fuel in these devices.
Tips - when
burning trash:
Burn when wind will blow
smoke away from the com-
munity.
Prevent smoldering by
burning only when materials
are dry.
Never burn electronics, rub-
ber, batteries, plastics or
other toxic materials.
Thick smoke from burning trash
in a burn cage.
Other ANV Air
Fact Sheets
Diesel Fuel Use
Road Dust
Indoor Air
Wood Smoke
For these fact sheets and
related videos, visit:
www.epa.gov/regionlO/
tribal/air/alaska. html
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What about landfill burning?
When trash is burned in a pile on the ground, or
even in a burn cage or burn box, it burns at low
temperatures that produce dangerous air pollu-
tion and particles. It tends to smolder and release
toxic smoke over long periods, especially when
wet. Burn boxes reduce safety risks and hazards
from flying embers, but generally do not raise the
temperature of burning trash sufficiently to reduce
the dioxins emitted into the air.
Incinerators are burn units that use fuel to assist
the burning and raise temperatures sufficiently
to reduce the toxic emissions produced. How-
ever, incinerators are expensive and require fuel
and trained operators. Incinerators, which subject
to federal regulation, typically are not practical
for small rural communities. New safer burning
technologies are needed to better address the waste
problems in rural Alaskan communities.
For many villages, the most practical option is to
first remove plastics, electronics, batteries, and
other such items from the trash to backhaul out of
the community for proper disposal.
Then, a well-designed and operated burn box can
burn the remaining separated trash safely at high
enough temperatures to reduce the amount of toxic
smoke produced.
How can the need for burning
trash be limited?
Reduce: Find ways to reduce the quantity and vol-
ume of goods that are brought into the community
that will need to be disposed of in the landfill, such
as packaging and plastic bags. Choose long lasting
items that will not need to be replaced frequently.
Region 10 Contacts:
Alaska Tribal Solid Waste/Air Contacts
Tedjacobson, Heather Valdez,
(907) 279-2511 x7363 (206) 553-6220
tjacobson@ruralcap.com valdez.heather@epa.gov
Erin McTigue
(206) 553-1254 • mctigue.erin@epa.gov
EPA Region 10 Main Number: (800) 424-4372
V /
Reuse: Find ways to put used items to other uses
or make used items available to others. Choose
reusable items rather than disposable ones. Switch
to cloth bags rather than plastic bags for groceries.
Recycle: Set up recycling and backhaul programs
that will keep goods from going to landfills for
eventual burning. Compost household food waste.
How can health be protected?
Separate the trash so that whatever can be recycled
or is hazardous to burn, such as plastic, lead acid
batteries, used oil, and e-waste, is removed and
disposed of more appropriately.
Be careful when choosing the location of burn
boxes and the site of any burning. Burning should
be conducted as far as possible from people, houses
and locations where food and water are gathered.
Be aware of the wind direction and only burn
when the wind is blowing away from the village.
Be sure the conditions are best for burning when
the smoke will rise high into the air and away from
the community.
The waste should be dry to burn quickly and
reduce smoldering. Use a well designed and sited
burn box. Have someone be responsible for ensur-
ing the burn box is used and maintained properly.
Learn more on the web
EPA Region 10 Tribal Solid Waste
Management Resources
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/wyl/tribal/index.htm
EPA National Tribal Solid Waste Resources
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/TRIBAL.NSF/
programs/tribal_solid_waste
Open burning:
www.epa.gov/msw/backyard/
Alaska Department of Environmental Conser-
vation Solid Waste Program:
http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/sw/index.htm
RurALCAP Solid Waste Resources:
www. aerho. org/solid_waste_mgt/solid_waste. html
Zender Environmental
www.zendergroup.org/viewdocs.htm
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