OPEN BURNING
IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY & YOUR ALTERNATIVES
Health and
Environmental Effects of Open Burning
The
potential cost to your health, your home, your community and the environment
far exceeds the cost of adequate collection services or alternatives to
burning. Over the past several decades, major changes in waste composition
have taken place with the introduction of synthetic products and packaging
derived from hydrocarbons and chlorine including plastics, solvent, bleach
or pesticides. These materials may represent a much greater danger to
public health and the environment than common materials found in household
waste. Open burning causes the release of particulate matter, carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and toxics into the atmosphere.
These pollutants can cause difficulties in breathing and irritation to the
respiratory tract, or even more severe health problems.
Residential backyard burning rarely exceeds 500 degrees F, so combustion
is incomplete and harmful pollutants are concentrated close to the ground.
Most Open Burning is prohibited in Hillsborough County. Allowed burning is
described below.
The
Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) issues authorizations for all land
clearing operations prior to commercial development, including the initial
clearing of land for agricultural purposes per
Chapter 1-4 Open Burning Rule. Authorization normally lasts for 30 days
with a possibility of a one time 15 day extension. The Authorization will be
issued after submission of an application for open burning along with a fee
payable to the EPC of: 2 acres or less - $400; more than 2 acres - $600.
EPC staff will conduct an on-site inspection prior to approval.
Application for the use of an air curtain incinerator
or
Application for pile burning.
The
Division of Forestry (DOF)
controls and authorizes open burning for the maintenance and continuous
clearing of agricultural land. Those actively involved in the commercial
operation of a ranch, farm or grove may obtain a permit from DOF by calling
1-863-648-3163. The DOF’s open burning rules are at Chapter 5I-2, F.A.C.
The
Tampa Fire Dept. (TFD) issues permits authorizing burning within the
city limits of Tampa to all applicants prior to their requesting an EPC
authorization. This permit can be obtained by calling 1-813-744-5541.
Guidelines for EPC
Authorizations:
With an Air
Curtain Incinerator:
The pit cannot exceed 12 feet in width and it must be
at least 10 feet deep. The pit walls must be vertical, not sloped or
slanted. The air curtain incinerator must meet a setback distance of at
least 300 feet from any occupied building and at least 100 feet from any
public road or highway. The Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI) blows a sheet of
air across the top of the pit to increase burning efficiency and reduce
smoke and fly ash emissions. Do not overfill. An overfilled
pit has material above the manifold and will result in blockage of the air
flow and excessive smoke emissions. The ACI should not be dismantled and
moved to another location without EPC staff approved.
Without an Air Curtain
Incinerator:
Open
burning is prohibited within 1000 feet of any occupied building and 100 feet
of any public road or highway. The burn piles cannot exceed 30 feet in
diameter and 10 feet in height. No more than 3 burn piles are allowed at any
one site.
Additional Information:
-
Open burning must not start before 9:00 am and must be completely
extinguished one hour before sunset. Burning must be conducted so as not to
cause a threat to health, safety or cause a nuisance.
-
All burn sites must be under constant physical supervision of a competent
person who has the means available to quickly extinguish the fire.
-
Materials that are to be burned must consist only of vegetation from
the land that is being cleared.
-
Open burning within 1000 feet of any active runway or a Department of
Transportation approved public airport is prohibited.
-
The burn site must be away from overhanging trees, underbrush or any other
combustible material.
-
The effect of wind must be considered to minimize the chance that smoke and
soot may cause a hazard or nuisance to residences and vehicular traffic.
-
The material to be burned must be dry and burned without the use of
gasoline, kerosene, or other combustible materials.
-
Only naturally occurring vegetation can be burned.
-
Open burning shall not produce a nuisance, excessive smoke or odor, or
excessive smoldering.
-
Waste Pesticide Containers:
·
Pesticide
containers must be "Group 1" with no more than 100 lbs of pesticide
containers to be burned per day.
·
Burning at
least 1000 feet away from any occupied building and 100 feet away from any
public road.
·
Piles should
be limited in number so that they can be controlled and a means of
extinguishing should be available on-site.
·
Persons
obtaining authorization must call the EPC and HCFR and provide the following
DOF permit information: name, number, location and date(s) of burning.
Agricultural Black Plastic
In March 1993, The Environmental Protection Commission revised Chapter
1-4, the Open Burning Rule, to allow the burning of
Agricultural Black Plastic, classified as Polyethylene by
commercial strawberry and tomato growers in mulch and string application.
Farmers are also allow to burn their plastic potting. Containers must
be completely free of residual material, including inner liners, which shall
be rinsed to be rid of all fertilizer, soil or other residuals. Farmers are
not required to obtain an authorization for this activity, but must follow
all guidelines and restrictions and adhere to the rules.
Agricultural Black Plastic (this burn is not in compliance with EPC
rule)
Agricultural Black Plastic
shall
not be burned in a large pile as shown above. Such an activity has a
potential to create a nuisance to nearby residents. Burning should occur in
small piles at the ends of each roll. Burning shall comply with Chapter 1-4
Open Burning Rule. Pile shall contain only black plastic.
