FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 8, 2006
DHEC encourages alternatives to open burning of yard debris
COLUMBIA - York County residents should explore alternatives rather than burning their yard trash and debris, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
Leaves and twigs may be burned but can be unhealthy for neighbors, said Will Hinson, air section manager for DHECs Region 3 Environmental Quality Control office which serves York County. Smoke from these fires can be troublesome for people with respiratory problems such as asthma. The environment is also effected from the smoke of many different types of open burning.
Hinson said an alternative to burning yard waste is composting. This consists of recycling leaves, grass clippings, weeds, brush, kitchen scraps and other organic waste by maintaining the waste in a pile and allowing it to decompose naturally. The compost can be used in gardens and mixed in with other soils to return important nutrients to the ground. More information on composting may be found at: http://www.scdhec.gov/recycle/html/compost.html
Homeowners can generally burn yard trimmings if local ordinances allow and it does not cause a public nuisance, Hinson said. Other allowed burning includes fireplaces, campfires, outdoor barbecues and bonfires for festivals and other occasions.
However, the burning of common household garbage, plastics, furniture, or other materials such as copper wiring is prohibited by state law.
Hinson said within the last three weeks DHEC staff investigated 11 possible violations of the states open burning law in the Clover and Lake Wylie areas of York County. First violations result in a warning to the person responsible for the burning and subsequent violations can be referred to DHECs Columbia offices for enforcement which may include fines.
Anyone who has questions about the allowed types of outdoor burning in the state may contact the local DHEC Environmental Quality Control Regional offices which are listed at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/envserv/ ). The S.C. Forestry Commission also regulates certain types of outdoor burning. Consult http://www.state.sc.us/forest/fyard.htm for a county toll-free number to notify the Forestry Commission about residential debris burning. Local ordinances on outdoor burning may also apply. Other open burning information may be found on DHECs Web site at http://www.scdhec.gov/baq , or by calling the local DHEC Environmental Quality Control Regional office at (803) or DHECs Bureau of Air Quality at (803) 898-4123.
-###-
For more information:
Thom Berry - (803) 898-3885
E-mail - berrytw@dhec.sc.gov
BNR1741