Georgia EPD burning ban begins today

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ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia’s open burning ban began in 54 Georgia counties today

The ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris from May 1 through September 30. This is in addition to the rule that prohibits the burning of household garbage. Burning household garbage is never allowed anywhere in Georgia.

Ground-level ozone is most commonly produced in the heat of the summer. Ground-level ozone can cause lung inflammation as well as other health problems. Open burning also creates particle pollution, which consists of extremely small particles that can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

May through September is a time of year when people, particularly children, are more likely to be outdoors. The outdoor activity also coincides with the increase in ground-level ozone and particle pollution.

Karen Hays, Chief of the Georgia EPD Air Protection Branch said, “The summer open burning restrictions help us improve Georgia’s air quality during the hot summer months.”

Recreational activities such as campfires and grilling are exempt from the open burning ban.  Burning vegetative materials at agricultural operations are also exempt.

Some Georgia counties and cities have burning restrictions that are more stringent than the open burning ban. You may need a burn permit from the Georgia Forestry Commission before conducting any burning.   EPD recommends that citizens check with their local Fire Marshall and the Georgia Forestry Commission before conducting any burning.

Citizens can access more information on the open burning ban by visiting http://epd.georgia.gov/ and clicking on “Open Burning Ban” under Quick Links, or by calling the EPD District Office in their area (phone numbers listed below). Counties included in the ban and the appropriate EPD District Office phone numbers follow:

Mountain District Office (Cartersville): 770-387-4900 Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, and Walker counties.

For more information about alternatives to burning, such as composting and chipping, please visit http://epd.georgia.gov/air/outreach-and-alternatives-burning. You may also access a map of Georgia composting operations at http://epd.georgia.gov/composting-operations-georgia.

Debris can also be hauled to a commercial processing/grinding/composting operation or to an inert or construction and demolition landfill. For a list of landfills in your area, please call EPD’s Solid Waste Management Program at 404-362-2692 and/or visit the Land Protection Branch website for more details: http://epd.georgia.gov/land-protection-branch.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

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