NOT IN MY BACKYARD!

 

Often those nice still summer evenings are spoiled by the waft of fumes from the next-door neighbour’s garden. Bad enough if it’s garden waste smouldering away but if it’s the contents of the kitchen bin, it’s not a pleasant experience! 

 

What’s wrong with backyard burning?

There has been a huge increase in backyard burning of waste, which has coincided with increasing waste disposal charges. It is incorrectly seen as a way to save money as well as a harmless and legitimate way of reducing the amount of waste for disposal. This is not the case!

 

Health effects of back yard burning

Traditionally waste was made up of simple things like wood, paper and organically produced food waste. However modern science has changed this and most of what goes in our waste is made up of chemicals, plastics and solvents. The burning of such items at low temperatures produces toxic fumes and has long term health implications. 

 

Backyard burning that causes nuisance, is an offence under the Air Pollution Act, 1997.  Householders often complain that they can’t open their windows or hang out washing because of the fumes coming from their neighbour’s back yard fire.

 

What can I do?

Uncontrolled burning should be avoided at all costs. It is up to every householder to take environmental responsibility and dispose of household waste in a proper manner. If we reduce, reuse and recycle what we can and compost all garden waste, this should leave a minimum amount of waste for disposal in the bin.  Please play your part – not in YOUR backyard!

 

For further information, contact DLR Environmental Services Department on 205 4810 or email environ@dlrcoco.ie