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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