OPen Burning of REfuse In Pennsylvania

What is the law about open burning in Pennsylvania?

Did you know that it is illegal to burn furniture, metal, or construction waste in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

Further, pursuant to the 1988 Act 101, (Pennsylvania's recycling guidelines), municipalities that adopted curbside recycling programs are expected to additionally prohibit open burning of recyclables in accordance with the act. Unfortunately, the public is not fully aware of these laws. Many residents erroneously believe that burning laws are set only at the municipal level.

Not only is open burning damaging to air quality, but burning of any kind that is not carefully monitored puts our gamelands, wildlife and citizens at risk. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, "one of the major causes of forest fires in Pennsylvania is debris burning. A careless person burning trash or yard waste can be responsible for causing wildfires that burn thousands of acres of valuable Pennsylvania forests.". 99% of the wildfires in Pennsylvania are a direct result of people’s actions.

The Pennsylvania Code 129.14

More about Burning in Pennsylvania

Open burning is a fire in which material is burned in an open, outdoor area, or in a receptacle without a stack or chimney. Burning in burn barrels is considered "Open Burning".

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, "Pennsylvania law allows open burning of "domestic refuse" as long as the fire is on the property of a structure occupied solely as a residence by two families or less and when the refuse results from the normal occupancy of the structure. 'Domestic refuse' does not include such items as demolition waste, insulation, shingles, treated wood, paint, painted or stained objects or furniture, tires, mattresses, box springs, metal, insulating coating on wire, television sets and appliances, automobiles, automotive parts, batteries, PVC products, waste oil, and other petroleum products." Link PA DEP: Air Pollution from Household Open Burning in Pennsylvania

In light of the modern plastics based packaging paradigms, manufactured products using protective or decorative paints and dyes, and the hazardous "forever chemicals" that are added to many household items, significant risks are posed to the health of humans and the environment. According to the PA DEP, "Burn barrels...emit heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium, as well as unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide. The closer a person is to the waste that is burning, the higher the risk of inhaling dangerous pollutants".

When solid waste is combusted, heavier particles that cannot be carried to the upper atmosphere are precipitated down in a wide radius beyond the burn site. These particles contaminate the soil and water and are implicated in serious health conditions including respiratory ailments and cancer.

In your Community

There are still many communities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that permit some form of refuse burning. Even if this is the case, individuals are still not permitted to burn items in ways that are prohibited by state regulations.

Learn the code in your community by visiting your municipality's website. Municipal ordinances cannot be less stringent but may be more stringent than the state requirements. If the code or ordinance does not refer to state law, consider informing your council. Where possible, get involved to enact community standards prohibiting harmful burning , and if necessary, report violators.

OPen Burning of REfuse In Pennsylvania

What is the law about open burning in Pennsylvania?

More about Burning in Pennsylvania

In your Community

This website uses cookies.