Open Burning Regulations

Go to Akron Reginal Air Quality Management District's (ARAQMD) Website for more information regarding open burning regulations for our area. The information below comes from ARAQMD and hopefully assists in answering any questions you may have regarding open burning regulations.

Q: What is open burning?

A: The burning of any materials where the air contaminants (resulting from combustion, or burning) are emitted directly into the air without passing through a stack or chimney

Q: Who sets the rules, guidleines, laws regarding open burning?

A: Akron Regional Air Quality Management District (Akron Air Quality) & the State of Ohio Fire Code.

Q: Akron Air Quality regulations have different guidelines for different areas, which one applies to Rootstown residents?

A: The two sets of guidelines are for RESTRICTED and UNRESTRICTED areas. Rootstown is considered an UNRESTRICTED area.

Q: What are the regulations for UNRESTRICTED areas?

A: ALLOWED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION TO/FROM OHIO EPA:

• cooking for human consumption
• Heating tar, welding, acetylene torches, highway safety flares, warmth for outdoor workers/strikers, smudge pots and similar occupational needs.
• Disposal of residential waste or agricultural waste generated on premises IF:
• the fire is set only when atmospheric conditions will readily dissipate contaminates.
• the fire does not create a visibility hazard.
• the fire is located at a point on the premises no less than 1,000 feet from any inhabited building not located on said premises.
• the wastes are stacked and dried.
• no materials are burned that contain rubber, grease, saphalt, or liquid petroleum
• Ceremonial fires provided:
  • the fires are less than 5ft X 5ft X 5ft
  • they burn no longer than 3 hours
  • the fuel is chosen to minimize emission of air contaminants.

Q: What is allowed WITH written permission from the Ohio EPA for Unrestricted areas?

A: ALLOWED WITH WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OHIO EPA:

• Disposal of ignitable/explosive materials
• Instruction in methods of fire fighting or research in the control of fires
• In emergency or other extraordinary circumstances
• Disposal of land clearing waste using an air curtain destructor
• Recognized horticultural, silvicultural, range, or wildlife management practices

Q: So how does an individual get permission to conduct burning?

A: An application for permission to open burn must be submitted in writting at least 10 days before the fire is to be set to:

Akron Regional Air Quality Management District

146 S High Street, Suite 904

Akron, Ohio 44308

Phone: (330) 375-2480 Toll Free 1-800-589-2480 Fax (330) 375 2402

This application must contain:

• the purpose of the proposed burning
• the type and quanity of material to be burned
• the date(s) when burning is to take place
• the location of burning site
• map showing distances to residences, populated areas, roadways, air fields, and other landmarks
• the methods or actions that will be taken to reduce the emissions of air contaminants

The OHIO EPA grants permission if the applicant demonstrates to their satisfaction:

• open burning is necessary to the public intrest
• will be conducted in a time, place, and manner as to minimize the emission of air contaminants
• will have no serious negative effect upon connecting properties or to its occupants

Permission to open burn must be obtained for each specific project. In emergencies where public health or environmental quality will be seriously threatened by delay while written permission is sought, the fire may be set with oral permission from the OHIO EPA

Violations of any of the conditions set forth by the OHIO EPA in granting permission to open burn shall be grounds for revocation of such permission and refusal to grant future permission, as well as for the impostion of other sanctions provided by law.

The OHIO EPA, after receiving notification, may determine that the open burning is not allowed, and the OHIO EPA will notify the applicant to this effect.

Q: Who may open burning affect for health reasons?

A: Open burning can be harmful to people suffering from:

• emphysema
• chronic bronchitis
• asthma
• other respiratory problems

One example of how burning affects those with respiratory problems is asthmatics. Asthmatics are allergic to mold spores, millions of which are harbored in leaves. These mold spores, along with other gases, are released into the air by the burning process. A person struggling with respiratory problems cannot tollerate the airborne waste that open burning releases into the air.

Q: What are the alternatives to open burning?

A: Other ways of "getting rid" of unwanted material include:

• Solid Waste Collection
• Recycling
• Composting
• Chipping