Air Quality
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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.
See a clickable map showing
alternatives to burning available in your area.
Contents:
What can you do instead of burning yard waste?
See local area information
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 clean-up days
- Taking your yard waste to a landfill (many landfills in Washington have reduced fees or special fees for yard waste)
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:
English language
En Español
Local area information:
Burn barrels:
English language
En Español
Burn permits:
Urban Growth Areas:
Information for builders:
Contact your air quality agency
