Sources of pollution

Outdoor burning

• Pollution from burning rubbish and garden waste
• Urban areas
• Rural areas

Pollution from burning rubbish and garden waste

Every year more than 100 tonnes of fine particles, 550 tonnes of carbon monoxide and 200 tonnes of hydrocarbons pour into the air from rubbish fires and garden waste.

As well as producing harmful pollutants, these fires can also be a nuisance to neighbours. Approximately 3000 complaints about open burning are received by councils every year in the Auckland region.

Urban areas

Burning rubbish and garden waste is not allowed in urban areas!
You can burn untreated wood for cooking (umu, hangi or BBQ) and you can use braziers for heating but only if it doesn't cause a problem for your neighbours!

Rural areas

If you must burn rubbish or garden waste then follow these rules:

• call your local council first as it may be prohibited, and if it isn't you will probably need a fire permit
• don't burn plastics, rubber, paint, poisons, painted wood, treated timber, dust, food scraps, wet material, fabrics, green grass, foliage, tins, or glass. These materials may produce large quantities of toxic smoke
• don't burn between the hours of sunset and sunrise.

You can only use an incinerator in a rural area, and should follow these basic rules:

• your incinerator must be three metres from your boundary and 12 metres from any building
• you must ensure that air is circulating through the fire
• your incinerator must not be close to anything that might catch fire
• there should be adequate water supplies available to put out the fire
• the incinerator should not be left unsupervised while in use
• you should ensure that the wind isn't blowing towards your neighbours washing or through their windows.

Remember - fires cause smoke, smells and unhealthy effects, and can get out of control!

For more information on outdoor burning, see our Airfacts 14: