Ban on Open Burning in New York State 44 comments
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed a statewide ban on most forms of open burning to reduce pollution and wildfires.
The State’s main concern is that more trash and plastics are being burned, releasing increasing amounts of cancer-causing chemicals into the air. Banning outdoor burning altogether could be an effective solution, as regulating materials being burned can be difficult.
Proposed regulations would include exceptions for small campfires, training exercise fires for emergency personnel, ceremonial, religious, and flag retirement fires.
Current restrictions are in place on burning debris outdoors in communities with populations of more than 20,000 people.
Many state residents and farmers, including those in the Adirondack Park, rely on controlled brush burning and burn barrels to dispose of lawn clippings, leaves, tree limbs and agricultural wastes.
Farmers are currently permitted to burn brush and agricultural waste such as feed bags, bale wraps and greenhouse flats, many of which are made of non-recyclable plastics.
Alternatives to burning include trips to dumps, landfills, or renting chipping machinery, which can be costly. Some property owners argue that strict enforcement of ‘no trash burning’ would be more effective than a statewide ban on all burning.
How do you feel about the proposed ban - should New York State place greater restrictions on open burning?
As an Alaskan you get used to hearing about burned bans, and I have to say that this one actually makes some sense.
I think that the state should place more strict burn restrictions from the information of this article.
I know that in Alaska we are not allowed to burn large fires in residential areas without permits from the Fire Department, and in the wild we can only have campfires in areas marked for campfires, such as campsites.
The state has definetly benefitted from this as we have seen a drop in the wildfires, so I think that this crack down would be a wonderful idea for keeping the state healthier and safer.
I completly agree with you. Wood smoke is not that bad, but trash smoke pollutes the already polluted air. We should have a ban on all open fires that are not completely made of wood.
I think that they should not ban fires but ban the bad use of them, For ex. not using Gas or and other chemicals to start the fire…
I don’t agree, but they should monitor people
I think it’s a good idea to solve this problem. But if it’s not band it will make our enviroment worse a unhealthy for wild animals
Please leave us alone. We do not need more restrictions placed on us. Let’s save lives and work on cell service in the Adirondacks. People are much more important than trees!
NY state is over taxed and way over regulated. and I might add people cannot afford to live here. I LOVE MY ADIRONDACKS, AND I DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOLD WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO BY A FEW SELF RIGHTEOUS LEGISLATORS.
they should ban burning trash but they shouldnt ban burning wood fires because it takes away water purifacaiton for hikers and campers and it takes away heat from outdoorsmenand there cooking capabiaties outdoors
We strongly support the ban! The toxic smoke really bothers us. We have spent hours and hours tracking down the sources of the horrible smoke, reporting it to our local code enforcement and or DEC and often times nothing can be done because of lack of jurisdiction. In addition, because some materials are allowed to be burned, it is hard to enforce or detect when someone burns something that is illegal. We live in the adirondacks because we love nature and “fresh air.” Because of the frequent burning of garbage, our air is unhealthy and unpleasant. Our relatives in cities have better laws to protect them. Whatever it takes to improve our air quality, we wholeheartedly support. Thank you!
Paul and Laura WEick
23 Library Avenue
Warrensburg, NY 12885
It is important to keep air quality for future generations. I support alternative forms of energy such as wind and water. I want to maintain burning wood for campfires as a way to make camping and experiencing the outdoors enjoyable for people. This will give them added respect for their natural world
I think that NYS should place a greater restriction on open burning because certain chemicals are being released into the atmosphere and that is doing damage to our earth.
I’m strongly against a one size fits all solution to an unproven problem (all outdoor burning causing cancer)! I would support a ban on burning trash and garbage, but brush, leaves, and grass are natural products. Burning off dead grass in the spring, or leaves in the fall is not going to pollute the atmosphere to any measurable degree. This state already has way to many restrictions on what one can and can’t do, in the name of “big brother” protectionism. Do what’s right for once and enforce no trash burning, and not just what’s easy by just banning all burning.
LOWER THE COST OF LANDFILLS AND PEOPE WILL STOP BURNING
We need to do everything possible to pertect the Adirondack’s , but keep it acessable to most uses.
I am proud to think that after years of fighting for this legislation both on a local and the state level that it may finally come to pass.
Garbage burning is unnecessary and unhealthful. There are many alternates to burning trash such as recycling, reusing and reducing. Every day too many resources which could be recycled are instead burned. This practice, which affects those who live nearby as well as those who eat dairy and meat products grown in areas where people farm, affects the health of all of us near and far.
Farmers say it will be an economic hardship for them, but this is not so. There are currently agricultural plastics recycling pilot programs which will hopefully soon be in operation and so remove the largest portion of the trash bill: those pesky ag. bags.
For all of our health, let it pass.
Respectfully,
Mary Ashwood
This is an unreasonable piece of proposed legislation. People have been burning fires for thousands of years. Instead, people who are found to be burning plastics and trash should be prosecuted and fined.
No!!!!
How are you supposed to cook when you go camping and stuff???
It should not be banned more than it already is.
burning ruins the air!!
no more open burning!!
your Museum is really neat. I have to say i am aganist the burning.
stop open burning fires!
Yes, yes, we must do all we can to preserve our great wilds!
garbage YES wood NO
Yes New York should enforce no trash burning
IF there is a STATE ban, why didn’t the STATE send all residents a notice??? With mass communications so easy, why are we not more informed? ok, so what do we do if we see someone burning trash….barrel or in the open????
jkolins@frontiernet.net
ps…trips to dumps would be good…BUT MOST TOWNS make it very difficult to get a permit…too many restrictions.
find something else of more importance and leave small rural areas alone.
I think that banning outdoor burning would be an effective solution. It might be more costly, but it would demote cancer and improve the air quality. I agree that a “no trash burning” purposal would be more advantageous.
Allow the local communities to establish their own regulations regarding burning. To outlaw any burning semms to be the usual overzealous and punitive approach of environmental groups and non-residents.
no more dec regulations
I think it is a good idea that they ban burn barrows bc of all of the people getting sick and getting cancer n the cause of wild fires.
As well intended as it sounds, common sense is not being considered as the government involvement often precludes said common sense. Open burning of acceptable materials is necessary in rural, agricultural areas. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that cattle/livestock will someday be banned due to their natural emissions of methane gas as a result of government’s inability to legislate with common sense.
Composting of lawn clippings and brush is a more effective means to disposed of “yard waste”. Open burning should not be open-ended and inclusive of all materials. There are many more toxins in every use than in prior genreations and thes need to be disposed of properly rather than part of “trash burning” practice. Better yet, acquisition / use of these products should be eliminated. We need more consumer edcuation about the issue and more consumer activism to eliminate the source of these pollutants.
I think this is a great idea. Fires are a big part of the reasons we are loosing forests in the area. Fire saftey is our job!
It is a wonderful place because I like the things. The things are so great. There are many alternatives to burning and burning is dangerous and releases toxins into our air.
I think that they should ban burning garbage, but not open fires. If it really does cause cancer, then sure this is a necessary law, but you have not proved that yet.
The proposed band on open burning is too restrictive. Much of the yard waste being generated in rural communities can and has been safely burned for years.
It is when individuals do not take into consideration the effects of burning garbage and let it smolder for days that become a problem. Burning of yard waste and brush should be allowed in rural communities by both the individual and the municipalities.
This ban is not nessary
I drive through many areas in Wayne county on my way to work.Households are still burning trash and garbage instead of participating in formal refuse collections. The morning sunrises reflect the heavy hanging aftermath of this careless waste disposal.
camping yes, other no.
I think it’s bad for the enviornment. I think it should stop.try your best to get it to stop.
cancer causing chemicals are not good- so it is good that open burning is banned-
it is also good that what you burn is limited- not trash- but brush and feed bags- what the farmers burn.
new york should keep burning trash and plastics burned- but still permit natural things- like brush, tree limbs, and other natural materials be burned. otherwise, these cancer causing chemicals could kill and sicken several people-
this is good for the health of the people and is good to help keep new york green
i agree
it is a very bad thing 4 the enviorment
I agree with the states concer