Open Burning
Fact Sheet
What is open burning?
- Open burning is the burning of any materials that produce air contaminants that are directly emitted into the air, without first passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber.
- Residential open burning is the act of legally burning clean wood products at a private family dwelling.
Why is open burning a concern?
- All open burning activities produce smoke, which contains harmful pollutants - some of which are toxic.
- Smoke from five pounds of leaves contains about one pound of air pollution.
- Open burning contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant that damages human health, vegetation and buildings.
- Open burning can cause health problems including eye, nose and throat irritation; lung irritation and congestion; shortness of breath and coughing; stomach or intestinal upset; headaches or memory loss; skin irritations or burns; and eye damage.
- Repeated exposure to smoke can also cause developmental problems in children and increase people's chances of getting cancer.
- Children, the elderly, those with lung problems and pregnant or nursing women may suffer more serious health effects than other adults.
What about trash burning?
- It is always illegal to burn trash.
- U.S. EPA research in 2000 indicated that an average of 40 percent of households in rural areas illegally burn their trash.
- Toxins from burning trash can cause cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems.
- Firefighters and other emergency responders risk their lives each time they respond to a trash fire that burns out of control. These fires can cause serious damage to property as well.
- If waste cannot be recycled, landfilling is the proper method of disposal.
When is open burning legal?
- Indiana state law allows certain open burning activities with conditions that minimize its impact on air quality and public health.
- However, residents should always contact their local air pollution control agencies, local fire department or health department to check for local laws, rules or ordinances on open burning that may be stricter than state law.
- Burning of clean wood products including leaves and tree branches is legal when done properly.
- Burning household trash and outdoor waste, such as plastics and building materials, is illegal. The pollution that burning these products produces poses a risk to health and contaminates soil and water.
- Burning treated wood and asbestos is also illegal to open burn at anytime.
How can I properly open burn when legal?
- Burn only clean wood products. Wood products coated with stain, paint, glue or other coatings may not be burned.
- Burn only during safe weather conditions. Do not open burn during high winds or on Ozone Action Days.
- Attend fires until completely extinguished.
- Burn only during daylight hours and extinguish fires prior to sunset.
- Keep fire-fighting equipment adequate for the size of the fire nearby.
- Burn materials in a noncombustible and ventilated container, such as a metal drum with enclosed sides and bottom. Burning on the group is illegal unless the burning qualifies as agricultural burning.
- Residential open burning is not allowed at mobile home parks, apartments, condominium or buildings of more than four dwelling units.
- Extinguish fires if they create a hazard, nuisance, pollution problem or threat to public health.
- Comply with all other federal, state and local laws, rules and ordinances.
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