Health: Don’t Waste It!
In the interest of public health protection, as of January 1,
2004, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
will begin enforcing a prohibition on Residential waste burning in
burn barrels, incinerators or on the ground. The prohibition will
apply to all households within the western half of the county where
99% of our population resides. A temporary exemption from the burn
ban will be allowed in the County’s rural eastern regions with low
population densities and limited garbage service. Within the
exemption area, the California Valley must come into compliance by
July 1, 2004; the remainder of the exempt area has until 2008 to
comply.
These prohibitions are being implemented to comply with a
statewide measure approved last year by the California Air Resources
Board to reduce toxic emissions from outdoor residential waste
burning. The smoke and ash from burning residential waste produces a
number of hazardous air pollutants, including potent carcinogens
such as dioxins. Dioxins can also cause immune system damage and
have the ability to travel long distances and penetrate the food
chain. Of particular concern are children and seniors who are more
sensitive to their harmful respiratory and depressed immune system
effects.
The APCD estimates that less than 1000 rural households in San
Luis Obispo County currently burn their garbage in burn barrels at
their residence. In explaining the upcoming ban on such burning,
APCD Director Larry Allen stated, "Burning garbage releases
large amounts of dangerous chemicals into the air that remain in the
environment long after the fire is extinguished. While we recognize
that waste disposal can be difficult in rural areas, the health
benefits of this measure for all county residents substantially
outweigh the inconveniences that will result for a small number of
households. We are working with local government and service
providers to find accessible and economical disposal alternatives
for rural residents. Our top priority, however, is to protect
community health and well-being."
For your health, and that of your family and neighbors, if you
currently burn your residential waste the APCD encourages you to
explore the alternatives — garbage service, rural transfer
stations, trash compactors, local landfill drop-offs and aggressive
recycling practices. Contact your local garbage service or community
service district to explore practical options.
Within an exempt area, if you must burn, please consider the
following:
- Have you confirmed that your home is within the exemption
area?
- Do you have a Dooryard Trash Burning Permit from CDF?
- Has it been designated a burn day?
- Do you have a good burn barrel in the right location?
- Are you only burning non-glossy paper or cardboard as
required by law?
For more information on the household waste burning regulation,
view the Household
Waste Burning
section on this website or call 781-4AIR or go to the ARB site
for a statewide
perspective. The Franchise Administration Program has information
on garbage, recycling, and green waste for unincorporated areas
of our County.
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