Burning trash is against state law
The open burning of trash, metal, plastic and all other man-made materials not only harms the environment and poses a public health risk, and it’s against state law.
While many chose to burn debris outdoors for disposal in spring, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality is reminding North Carolinians: that if it doesn’t grow, don’t burn it.
The open burning rule, the state’s oldest air quality regulation, limits what can be burned outdoors and when.
Commercial land clearing operations are also limited by the open burning rule. Land clearing is the uprooting or clearing of vegetation in connection with construction, land development or mining, or the initial clearing of vegetation to enhance property value.
The Division of Air Quality enforces the state open burning rule, partnering with local law enforcement, firefighters and fire marshals and the N.C. Forest Service to ensure compliance. Violators can be fined up to $25,000 per violation per day. To submit an open burning complaint, contact the DEQ Regional Office that serves your county.
