Does Burning Trash Make it Disappear?
Illegal backyard trash burning is a common method to dispose of trash, particularly in rural areas. A recent change to New York State regulations now prohibits open burning of trash statewide. This brochure provides information about: • Health concerns from backyard trash burning • Better trash disposal options available to you Burning of household trash or leaves in a barrel, pile or outdoor boiler releases smoke into the air. The content of the smoke depends on the trash that went into the fire, the temperature of the fire and the available oxygen. Trash fires in burn barrels can smolder and as a result produce greater amounts of harmful chemicals than a very active, “roaring” fire. Harmful chemicals can also be present in the ash from the fire.
