• It releases unfiltered and untreated toxic pollutants and particles directly into the air at ground level, it can also contaminate the soil and groundwater;
• It produces ash that can contain toxic metals such as mercury, lead, chromium and arsenic. People sometimes scatter the ash or bury it in their backyard garden. There, vegetables absorb and accumulate the toxic metals and children playing in the yard can ingest the contaminated soil; 
• It frequently causes brush, residential and forest fires particularly during drought.
   

Open burning can be harmful to your health and others around you, your home, and the environment. Smoke from open burning contains toxic gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases.

These gases can affect the respiratory system, increase asthma attacks, 

cause eye and throat irritation, induce coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and headaches. 

Recycle as much as possible and compost yard debris and use the chippings as mulch. Dispose of the remainder of your solid waste at a permitted landfill.

Download the Recycle Here app on your iPhone or Android. 
 

• Please report illegal open burning of items such as tires, plastic, copper wire, and asbestos covered materials to the appropriate SCDES Local Office as soon as possible. (Obviously, if a fire of any nature gets out of control, call 911 first.)
• You can also report illegal open burning of land clearing or yard debris, but most of the time these situations do not constitute an immediate threat, so you can report the incident to SCDES the next business day.