Rural burning banned during winter months

Having a District Council permit to burn green waste in your rural area doesn’t exclude you from a ban during winter, Environment Canterbury says.

Residents, particularly in rural areas, have complained to Environment Canterbury about smoke created from the burning of green waste.

Environment Canterbury Regional Manager RMA Monitoring and Compliance, Marty Mortiaux, says residents living in areas zoned for rural activities and covered by a Clean Air Zone cannot burn in the winter months. These properties are only allowed to burn between 1 September and 30 April each year.

There are Clean Air Zones for Christchurch, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Ashburton, Geraldine, Timaru, and Waimate urban and rural areas.

“When we have followed up on complaints, we have found that many of the alleged offenders have a permit to burn from the District Council. However, the residents were unaware of Environment Canterbury’s regional rules and didn’t realise that they cannot burn during the winter months,” he says.

Outdoor burning can be a nuisance for neighbours if not well managed, and can sometimes be a health hazard.

During winter, it may also contribute to poor air quality by adding to pollution caused by home heating and other sources.

Environment Canterbury also has a year-round ban on outdoor burning on all properties in towns and cities.

Mr Mortiaux says people should dispose of green waste by composting, shredding or chipping it to make garden mulch.

“Otherwise, use kerbside collection or green waste transfer stations and disposal..”

Stricter rural burning rules in Proposed Canterbury Air Regional Plan

The Proposed Air Plan – which is moving through the hearing process, with decisions expected this year – includes new rules and conditions that farmers will need to abide by when burning crop residue and other green waste, to manage smoke impacts.

Mr Mortiaux says that during winter rural burning must not occur in a Clean Air Zone. Burning in urban areas must not occur at all.

“We’re going to actively follow up on rural and residential burning complaints by identifying the properties involved and investigating the circumstances.”

A summer guide to outdoor burning of green waste on rural properties in a Clean Air Zone (between 1 September and 30 April)

The following conditions must be met:

• Burn only vegetation, paper, cardboard or untreated wood from your own property and up to two adjacent properties.

• The fire must be 100m upwind or 50m in any other direction from any sensitive activity (i.e. school, dwelling or gathering place etc).

• Material to be burnt must be left to dry for at least 6 weeks or the fire must be located at least 200m from any sensitive activity. If within 5km of an urban area; burning can only occur when wind speed is between 1 and 15km/hr.

• If the burn is likely to occur for 3 or more days, a smoke management plan is required.

• The smoke must not cause a nuisance beyond your property boundary.

To report a fire nuisance or illegal fire, call the Pollution Hotline: 0800 76 55 88.

To find out what Clean Air Zone you are in visit: www.canterburymaps.govt.nz

For more information on outdoor burning phone: 0800 324 676.

Outdoor burning in urban areas

Burning in urban areas is not currently permitted. (This includes any property zoned residential, commercial or industrial, even if used for rural related purposes).

Proposed measures of the Air Plan

• Allow outdoor cooking everywhere (including pizza ovens) at any time of the year

• Allow burning at community and cultural events, outside of winter months

• Not allow outdoor burning of any waste in urban areas under any circumstances.

For more information on burning green waste visit: http://ecan.govt.nz/advice/your-home/in-the-garden/Pages/green-waste.aspx

ENDS

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