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Department of Ecology News Release - February 1, 2008
08-028
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is providing $2.383 million in grant funding for 23 projects around the state to help small communities manage yard waste and land-clearing debris instead of burning it.
State lawmakers approved the plan to phase in the ban on outdoor burning as part of the state’s Clean Air Act, adopted in 1991. The ban on outdoor burning was expanded last year to include more than 100 smaller communities and urban growth areas. The state’s ban now covers all communities with urban growth areas.
Ecology partners with cities and counties to help them develop ways to use yard waste instead of burning it, in the interest of protecting public health. These grants are the most recent example of how Ecology assists small communities to make the ban on outdoor burning work and protect people from inhaling dangerous toxics in smoke.
“Smoke from outdoor burning is a serious threat to public health. It's one of the most toxic air pollutants in Washington,” said Stu Clark, who manages Ecology’s Air Quality Program. “It can pose health risks, such as asthma and lung cancer. Removing smoke from communities means we reduce those risks – and related health-care costs – considerably.”
The new grant projects should keep about 70,000 tons of organic material from being burned during the two-year grant cycle. Among examples of what’s included in projects slated for the funds:
“Many of the small, rural communities are going through a transition as they adjust to the ban on outdoor burning,” said Laurie Davies, Ecology’s Solid Waste and Financial Assistance program manager. “Despite the real challenges and costs they face, grants like these and technical assistance from Ecology show that there are viable best practices for managing and using yard wastes in all types of communities.”
The Legislature also directed Ecology to “convene a work group of affected stakeholders to assess opportunities, other than burning, to manage vegetative solid waste” and to “recommend best management practices, consistent with good solid waste management practices that work for smaller communities.” Finally, the department was to produce a report summarizing these actions.
A primary finding presented in the report is that small communities and rural counties struggle to find the financial resources to operate and maintain yard waste management programs. The report recommended that dedicated funding be provided to develop and sustain necessary infrastructure and promote new technologies for using yard and land-debris waste.
According to the report, the best management practice for yard waste is to use it, either as mulch or compost. Use is beneficial for soil health and stabilization, water conservation and plant production. Yard waste includes tree and shrub trimmings, leaves, yard clippings and similar organic debris.
But one size does not fit all. Best management practices will vary from city to city.
Although the Coordinated Prevention Grant projects announced today are specifically to help communities manage yard waste as a result of the expansion of the outdoor burn ban, Ecology has been providing grants for yard waste management since the early 1990s.
As a result, many successful yard waste management programs are already operating around the state. For example Franklin County owns a chipper (purchased in 1998 with CPG funds) it brings to the cities of Mesa, Kahlotus, Connell and Pasco annually in the spring and fall for about a week. Residents can drop off yard waste at no cost and receive chips for free
The City of Quincy in Grant County owns and operates a compost facility. It’s free to drop off yard waste and the finished compost is sold. The program is advertised on the city website.
Cities and counties will have another chance to apply for more general Ecology grant funds in July 2008. While all the Alternatives to Burning funds have now been awarded, projects that compost or recycle yard waste will be considered under guidelines for Beyond Waste and unspent CPG program funds.
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Media Contacts:
Kathy Davis, media relations, 360-407-6149
Shelly McMurry, grants coordinator, 360-407-6223
Jay Shepard, legislative report lead,
360-407-7040
For more information:
“Best Management Practices of Vegetative Solid Wastes for Urban Growth Areas of Less than 5,000 Population” Report: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0707049.html
Coordinated Prevention Grant website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/grants/cpg.html (For a list of Alternatives to Burning funded projects, see second bullet under “Two special provisos”)
Outdoor Burning Changes website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/2007Burn_Ban_FAQ.htm
Beyond Waste website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
