Outdoor Residential Waste Burning

This page last reviewed October 1, 2009

Burning household waste affects your health and your community's health...

Do you know the dangers from burning household waste near your home? Today's trash contains plastics, metals, and synthetic materials that create dangerous chemicals when burned. These chemicals include dioxins, benzene, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and other compounds that are known to cause respiratory ailments, stress human immune systems, and are potentially carcinogenic.

To protect community health, the Air Resources Board (ARB) approved an Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) to reduce air emissions of dioxins and other toxic substances from outdoor residential waste burning statewide.

Picture of burn barrels, burned household waste, and smoke in neighborhood.

Beginning January 1, 2004, no household trash or garbage can be burned outdoors at residences. Dry, natural vegetation, grown on the property, can still be burned outdoors in open piles, unless prohibited by local controls. Burn barrels are not allowed for burning waste, including vegetation, at residences.

There are temporary exemption areas, with extremely low population density, where dry, non-glossy paper and cardboard can still be burned, and where burn barrels are still allowed at residences. These temporary exemption areas were determined by local air districts and are listed by zip code in each county. California's Integrated Waste Management Board has compiled information about alternative waste disposal options in your community. Contact your local air district to find more information about residential burning in your area, including times when burning is restricted due to poor air quality.

For more information, please contact Ms. Tina Suarez-Murias, Air Pollution Specialist, Particulate Matter Analysis Section, at (916) 323-1495.