The evolution of trash burning behavior Backyard burning is an old tradition Even as late as the early 1980s many towns were burning their dumps and the burning of some trash was allowed Mid 1980s burning of all trash other than natural wood became illegal in VT Enforcement, education and landfill closings reduced burning by towns

Suddenly we had to think about solid waste disposal Recycling became popular Development of Solid Waste Districts and planning for solid waste disposal Regional landfills Backyard Burning continued and may have gotten worse due to cost and convenience factors

DEC efforts to stop backyard/residential burning Complaint investigations and enforcement Periodic Publicity and Education efforts Development of three brochures Fire Warden and Health Officer meetings Regional Workshops Model ordinances by DEC/VLCT and Dept of Forest and Parks

Increasing efforts by others to stop illegal open burning Private citizen groups (eg colored flyers) Town ordinances (106 towns had ordinances limiting trash burning in 2002) Enforcement and education by local officials Solid waste district publicity, ordinances and enforcement

New evidence emerged from EPA and other studies in the late 1990s Increasing evidence of harmful effects of PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) Evidence of high amounts of dioxin and other toxins generated during open burning We now realize that trash burning is an individual act having significant health and environmental consequences

Complaint Handling by the DEC Backyard burning/burn barrel complaints: Call Philip Etter at (802) More serious complaints: call me or the Agency Enforcement Division ( ) Please provide complete details Complaints will be logged How a complaint is handled depends on the individual situation