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Department of Ecology News Release - Oct. 6, 2003
03-194
YAKIMA - Fall is in the air, signaling the time of year when people begin to button up their lawns and gardens for the winter, and a good time for residents to consider alternatives to burning as they gather up their yard waste and natural debris.
Residential and land-clearing burning is not allowed in communities with populations of 10,000 people or more. In Central and Eastern Washington, that means the urban growth areas and cities of College Place, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Pasco, Pullman and Walla Walla, as well as the Airway Heights, Cheney, Spokane, Tri-Cities and Yakima urban growth areas.
Chipping, shredding and composting are some alternatives people can consider when cleaning up their yards. Information on composting is available from county solid-waste managers and master gardener programs. Some communities also have yard-waste collection programs.
"Autumn is a time of transition, so it's natural to want to take care of the yard litter and clutter that has accumulated over spring and summer," said Sue Billings, an air quality manager for the state Department of Ecology. "It is also a time when smoke can accumulate in low-lying areas, causing hazy skies and health problems. We hope people will explore alternatives to burning their yard waste this year."
Only natural vegetation may be burned where burning is permitted. Local fire department safety rules also must be followed.
More information on burning is available by calling the Department of Ecology at (509) 575-2490 in Yakima or (509) 329-3400 in Spokane, or online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/airhome.html, then click on "outdoor burning." Yard-waste recycling and composting information may be available by calling your county's solid-waste program.
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Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
