Air Quality > Residential/Outdoor Burning > Alternatives to Burning

What to do instead of burning:

"Be the Difference - Breathe the Difference"

You can be the difference in keeping our air clean and healthy. You can breathe the difference.

Smoke from outdoor burning can be just as bad for your health as cigarette smoke. Protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors by choosing not to burn.

What can you do instead of burning yard waste?

Select the map graphic below to get information about what to do with yard waste in your county.

If you live in an urban growth area and can't burn your yard waste -- or if you choose not to burn for health reasons -- there are plenty of other ways to dispose of yard waste.  These include:

• Chipping
• Composting
• Curbside pickup
• Community-wide or neighborhood cleanup days
• Taking your yard waste to a landfill (many landfills in Washington have reduced fees or special fees for yard waste)

Information about natural yard care

WSU Extension gardening information

Local area information

Why is outdoor burning a problem?

Smoke from outdoor burning pollutes the air, causing serious health problems.  Much like cigarette smoke, the smoke from burning leaves, grass, brush, and tree needles can cause asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and lung cancer.  Children, the elderly, and those with breathing problems are most harmed by poor air quality.

Burning also pollutes our water and soil.  Smoke particles fall into our water and on our soil.

Backyard fires can destroy property.  Backyard fires that get out of control set off most of the wildfires caused by people.  You can be held responsible for the cost of putting out your out-of-control fire, which can be very expensive.

Information resources

General information about outdoor burning:

Public Service Announcements - April 2009

• Be the difference, breathe the difference (MP3 File)
• Be the difference, breathe the difference (PDF File)

English language

• Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Burning
• Outdoor/Residential Burning Home Page
• Materials that are illegal to burn (poster)
• Materials that are illegal to burn (focus sheet)
• Why not to burn garbage
• The problem with outdoor burning
• Reducing smoke from land clearing burning
• Disposing of Storm and Flood Debris

En Español

• Preguntas frecuentes sobre La Prohibición de Quemar al Aire Libre
• Es contra la ley quemar estos materiales al aire libre
• No permite contaminació contaminación con su humo tampoco
• Sea la diferencia, respire la diferencia
        Transcript, short (PDF File)
        Transcript, full (PDF File)
        Audio (WAV File)

Local area information:

• Clickable map showing alternatives to burning available in your area
• Learn Before You Burn in Asotin County
• Learn Before You Burn in Central Washington
• Learn Before You Burn in Columbia and Garfield Counties
• Learn Before You Burn in Franklin County
• Learn Before You Burn in Grant County
• Learn Before You Burn in Lincoln and Adams Counties
• Learn Before You Burn in Northeastern WA
• Learn Before You Burn in Walla Walla County
• Learn Before You Burn in Whitman County

Burn barrels:

English language

• Burn Barrels: A Burning Health Problem
• Top Five Reasons to Stop Burning Trash in Burn Barrels

En Español

• Barriles para quemar: Un problema para la salud
• Cinco Razones para Dejar de Quemar Basura en un Barril

Burn permits:

• Outdoor Burning Permits Home Page

Urban Growth Areas:

• Urban Growth Area Maps

Information for builders:

• Commercial builders
• Residential builders

Contact Us for these counties: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties

Contact Us for these counties: Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat and Okanogan counties

Other County