Know the Facts Before You Burn

1. Up In Smoke Know the Facts Before You Burn

2. What is Open Burning? Open burning is any open flame that releases smoke directly into the air.

3. How is Open Burning Conducted? • Backyard Incinerators • Burn Barrels • Piling up of refuse such as trash, yard clippings, or leaves • Screened pits

4. Why Do People Burn? • Cost effective • Cultural • May be unaware of the harmful affects of open burning • No consistent trash pickup system

5. Cancer Heart Damage Lung Damage Respiratory Issues Asthma Emphysema Chronic bronchitis Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Reproductive and nervous system disorders So what! How does open burning affect me?

6. How does open burning affect our environment? • Releases toxic pollutants • Particulate matter (PM) • Sulfur Dioxide • Lead • Mercury • Dioxin • Hexachlorobenzene • Contributes to acid rain • Forms “bad ozone” (smog) which can damage crops and other vegetation

7. Confused on what to do with trash, garbage, and leaves? • There are legal and illegal ways to open burn. • When, where, and how a material is burned, and what the material is, determines if the burn is legal or illegal. • Local county/municipal ordinances may have more stringent rules than state regulations. Contact your regional Division for Air Quality Office for more information on county ordinances.

8. Animal carcasses Campfires Cooking fires Cut or fallen branches Household trash – Paper products ONLY Natural growth from land clearing Natural land management Legal Burning Activities

9. Animal bedding Chemical containers Coated and insulated wire Construction Garbage Hay Motor and used oil Muck piles (manure/hay) Plastic, rubber, and tires Wood materials Illegal Burning Activities

10. During fire season (February 15 through April 30 and October 1 through December 15) burning is allowed only between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. From May-September, open burning of legal materials is allowed but prohibited in particular areas. Check with your Regional Division for Air Quality Office or call 1-888-BURN-LAW for more information. When You Can Burn

11. During fire season, burn at least 150 feet from the nearest forested area. Do NOT locate fires near streams, sinkholes, or under or over utility lines. Do NOT burn within 50 feet of any structure. Do not burn near landfills. Where You Can Burn

12. The Governor or county judge may declare a fire emergency. All burning is prohibited at this time. Most open burning is restricted in Jefferson and Oldham Counties. Restricted areas from May -September include: Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties, and urban areas of Oldham and Bullitt counties. Check local ordinances that may prohibit open burning in your area or contact your Regional Division for Air Quality Office. Restrictions on Open Burning

13. Composting Mulching Recycling Shredding Contact your local Solid Waste Coordinator for more information on waste disposal. Alternatives to Open Burning

14. When having trouble on deciding whether or not to open burn, consider the five U’s: Unhealthy Unnecessary Unlawful Unsafe Unsightly

15. Burning Questions? Regional Offices: Ashland Karen Deskins (606) 929-5285 Bowling Green Troy Tabor (270) 746-7475 Florence Clay Redmond (859) 525- 4923 Frankfort Connie Coy (502) 564-3358 Hazard Steve Hall (606) 435-6022 London David Shivel (606) 330-2080 Owensboro Mac Cann (270) 687-7304 Paducah Betsy Ryan (270) 898- 8468 Division for Air Quality (502) 573- 3382 http://www.air.ky.gov Or Call 1-888-BURN-LAW