Burn Ban in Effect for Most of Georgia
From now through the end of September, most Georgians will not be able to burn piles of yard debris.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the burn ban includes dozens of counties north of Macon.
Recreational blazes are still allowed.
“Your campfires and your backyard barbecues are perfectly fine. Summers are made for fun and small fires are perfectly fine. But what we don’t want you to do is burn piles of debris, or yard debris of limbs and leaves and things like that,” says Georgia Forestry Commission spokeswoman Wendy Burnett.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division says open burnings can cause problems for the ozone during the summer months, when air is typically muggy and stagnant.
An audio version of this story.
Officials say progress has been made over the past few years, ozone-wise.
But, metro Atlanta’s population is expected to keep growing.
“That may create more yard waste for people that would like to burn it. Then we’re going to need to keep up the good work and not take our eye off the ball, so to speak,” says Clear Air Campaign spokesman Brian Carr.
People who violate the burn ban can be subjected to fines determined by the county and state.
Residents are encourages to have their yard debris hauled to a commercial composting operation or a landfill.
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