FAQ - Outdoor Burning

Q: May I burn my pine needles and tree trimmings?

A: For most Spokane County residents, burning yard and garden debris from improved property is prohibited.  Click here for more information.

If you have unimproved treed acreage, you may qualify for silvicultural burning under the WA Dept of Natural Resources. Click here for more information on silvicultural burning. 

Q: I live in the City of Spokane. I’d like to purchase one of the new backyard patio/deck heaters that burn wood. Is using this type of device allowed?

A: Yes. In the city and throughout Spokane County, use of this type of device is allowed on private property. This activity falls under the “Recreational Fires” category, and there are rules regarding how and when you burn. Click here for more information about Recreational Fires.

Q: My parents burned their garbage and yard waste as did their parents before them. Why should I stop now? Besides, most garbage is burned in the incinerator anyway, so what's the difference?

A: It is true that up until the early 1970s, burning debris was commonplace in backyards and at businesses. There are many reasons this practice was discouraged and ultimately banned. One of the biggest concerns is the potential health risks to people when burning. Studies have shown that dioxin released by a "backyard burner" is 20 times higher than at a controlled solid waste incinerator. 

The type of wastes people must deal with today are much different from those that were common in the past. Identifying which household wastes are hazardous is not as easy as it used to be. In addition, population density has increased, and this intensifies the impact from burning or burying hazardous household waste.

Many household wastes contain materials that give off hazardous emissions when burned, such as plastics, packaging, household chemicals, cardboard, paper products, and inks. These products can contain dioxins and heavy metals that can cause severe health risks.

Heavy metals that can be emitted from burning waste include arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, and silver. Many of these potentially harmful toxic metals are filtered out by pollution control equipment when waste is burned at a municipal incinerator. Industrial incinerators also filter out most of the remaining hazardous mateirals that are released when municipal solid waste is burned. Municipal and industrial incinerators also have much higher temperatures that help destroy harmful pollutants. Backyard burning, including use of burn barrels, releases hazardous pollutants, including heavy metals and dioxins, directly to the air.  This is why this practice is banned througout Washington state.

Q:  If I only burn paper, are there hazardous materials being released into the environment?

A:  Although many people believe that burning paper is acceptable, that fact is that it is still illegal. Even more important is the fact that paper products produced today, unlike those produced in the past, contain dyes, coatings and chemicals tha tcan release dangerous dioxins and heavy metals when the paper is burned.

It is understandable that many people think burning paper is harmless, since it has been done for generations. The message that needs to be sent to the general public is that a variety of better options exist to handle paper waste.

Click here for more information about the various outdoor burning programs in Spokane County.