Just because you can burn yard waste doesn’t mean you should.
Burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local neighborhood, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year.
Still, residents who plan to burn their yard debris may do so after Oct. 1, with proper permits when required. Local fire districts issue permits in many counties, but by arrangement with the local fire officials, ORCAA administers the residential burn permit program for rural Thurston County.
Residential outdoor burning is allowed with a permit after Oct. 1in unincorporated Thurston County, OUTSIDE designed Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundaries and all city boundaries. Burn permits are available online from ORCAA, www.www.orcaa.org.
Residents who are eligible to burn must remember the only material they may legally burn is natural vegetation gathered on site. State law prohibits the burning of garbage, construction debris – including milled lumber – and other non-vegetation debris. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) encourages all residents to explore options such as chipping of woody debris and composting of leaves and grass clippings rather than burning.
For more information on the outdoor burning rules throughout ORCAA’s jurisdiction, visit www.www.orcaa.org