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WHAT IS RESIDENTIAL BURNING? WHAT IS THE STATEWIDE RULE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH Residential burning is the disposal of from a TO REDUCE THIS ? HOUSEHOLD WASTE? residence by burning it outdoors on the ground or in a Reduce: Avoid disposable items. Buy products in bulk container, such as a burn barrel. Beginning January 1, 2004, household or economy sizes rather than individually wrapped or waste cannot be burned at residences. single serving sizes. Buy durable, repairable products and products that can be recharged, reused, or refilled. HOW IS IT HARMFUL TO YOUR The following restrictions will be enforced by the Imperial County APCD. : Donate unwanted clothing, furniture and toys HEALTH? to friends, relatives, or charities. Give unwanted magazines and books to hospitals, schools, libraries, or Residential waste burning is a serious health problem 1. No Residential Household Waste /Green nursing homes. Mend and repair rather than discard or for many people exposed to the toxic air Waste burning is allowed within city limits replace. found in the smoke. Immediate effects may include and identified townships. burning or itchy eyes, shortness of breath, and Recycle: Separate recyclable items from residential asthma attacks. Long-term effects may include 2. Only vegetation grown on your property waste and prepare them for a service respiratory disease, lung or immune system damage, can be burned at your residence. or drop them off at a local center. cancer, and premature death. Infants, small children, the elderly, and people with ailments like asthma and 3. All material must be dry and free of trash then, Dispose properly: If you are unable to get emphysema are especially sensitive to the toxic or dirt. routine waste collection service at your residence, compounds produced by burning household waste. combine trips to approved waste disposal facilities with 4. The use of burn barrels or backyard other errands. Hazardous household waste such as incinerators are not allowed. Burning solvents, oils, and oil-base paints must go to a local HOW DOES IT AFFECT COMMUNITY must be flat on the ground. collection site. HEALTH? 5. If you are allowed to burn vegetation WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH BURN Even in small communities, smoke travels easily (Green Waste), you must start the fire through neighborhoods. Many persons view with an approved ignition device. BARRELS AND ASH? exposure to smoke from burning residential waste as 6. All Burn Piles cannot be larger than Do not dispose of ash on the ground or into waterways, a public nuisance, but it can be far more. Smoke 10X10 Feet Wide and 5 Feet High. instead take it to an approved disposal facility. Transfer released at ground level or close to the ground stations and accept ash and barrels separately. means pollution from residential burning can directly 7. Outdoor Residential Green Waste Let ash cool for at least three days to make certain no affect the health of those conducting the burning, burning can only occur on a permissive embers or heat can start a fire at the disposal location. their families and neighbors. burn day. Depending on the condition of the barrel, some certified metal recyclers and processors may accept used burn 8. All Residents eligible to Residential barrels. After the ash is removed, some landfills WHY SHOULD WE REDUCE THESE Green Waste burning must first contact request a barrel be crushed or flattened and the bottom TOXICS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT? the Imperial County APCD for approval removed. and conduct the burning within allowable The toxic air pollutants produced from burning burning hours. household waste can travel long distances and WHAT APPROVED RECYCLING AND deposit on soil, plants, and in water. The leftover ash 9. Burns may not cause a nuisance with DISPOSAL FACILITIES ARE NEARBY? in the burn pile or barrel also contains toxic smoke and ash to neighbors. pollutants, which can spread into the soil and water. Find the facilities nearest you by calling your County Animals and fish can ingest the pollutants and 10. All burns must be terminated by sunset of or public works office. Learn what accumulate them in their tissue; plants can absorb each day. to do with various materials, by clicking on them too. When this contaminated food is eaten, the "Reuse & Recycling Centers" at the EARTH 911 pollutants are passed on to people. Therefore, website: http://www.earth911.com/about-us/ . simply avoiding the plume of smoke does not You can also find out about recycling, transfer, and eliminate potential health risks. ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS? disposal facilities at California Recycle’s website: http://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/swfacilities/ No exemptions are allowed for burning plastics and directory . household . WHAT ARE SOME OTHER For More Information Contact: ALTERNATIVES TO BURNING? Composting: Organic material such as fruit and vegetable , coffee grounds, eggshells, leaves, and grass clippings can be composted into mulch and Burning natural for gardens. You can learn more about composting at the U.S. EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home . Residential

Paper Shredding: Inexpensive paper shredders can be purchased to destroy personal papers at home, Green Waste before recycling or disposal. Shredded newspaper can also be composted. Only HOW CAN WE REDUCE VEGETATION BURNING AT RESIDENCES? Residents can their vegetation waste or "green waste" in their yards. Mulching lawnmowers IMPERIAL COUNTY APCD eliminate clean-up time and cost. Chipped twigs and branches make excellent landscaping material and 150 SOUTH 9TH ST. can also be composted. Many communities without EL CENTRO, CA 92243 regular green waste collection do have composting areas at the local . For more information about PHONE: (442) 265-1800 or alternatives to burning vegetation, including (888) 547-2876 conversion to energy, visit this website: http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/AirPollution/ http://www.arb.ca.gov/smp/biomass/biomass.htm LEARN BEFORE YOU BURN !

Know the Law Know What to Do YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ! Know Who to Contact If you observe illegal residential burning, or if you would like to report someone who is a continual problem burner, contact the Imperial County APCD.

Contact the local fire department ONLY when there is an immediate emergency. Date: November 2019 Revised