Prohibited burning materials

• tires
• plastics
• drywall
• demolition waste
• domestic waste (household material and food waste not including newspaper and cardboard)
• special waste
• biomedical waste
• asphalt and asphalt products
• treated lumber
• railway ties
• manure
• rubber
• paint and paint products
• tar paper
• fuel and lubricant containers.

Report a burn

If the burn you are reporting is a land clearing or commercial burn, contact the conservation officer and leave a message.

For all other burns contact your local fire department:

Neighbourly Notification Program

What can we do?

We have drafted a series of form letters that will be sent out by the SCCAS advising the people responsible for the smoke that neighbours have asked the SCCAS to send this letter to inform the person about the consequences of their burning methods. The letter will also include greener and healthier alternatives to the burning methods they are using, educational information about the health hazards, and links and contacts where they can access more information.

Your personal information will not be released. Just send us an e mail to notification@cleanaironthecoast.com included your neighbour's address, including postal code and name, if possible. Tell us what type of burning is causing the issue and we will send a letter to them within 2 days.

From our blog

• May 23rd: SCCAS presentation to the new Sechelt Council advocating a ban on developers’ burns
  
  Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 On May 23rd the SCCAS will make a presentation to the new Sechelt Council advocating a ban on developers' burns in the DOS.
  
  It would be very helpful if residents living in the District of Sechelt
  could attend this Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting which starts at 1 pm
  in the community room across from the library in the Sechelt Municipal
  building at Cowrie and Ocean Streets. We expect the opposition to be
  strong, so people who favor a ban and attend the meeting could make a
  strong statement with your presence.
  
  
• Open Burning video about Alberni Valley, Vancouver Island
  
  Posted: Fri September 16, 2011
  
  
• Incineration of Garbage and Other Wastes
  
  Posted: Mon August 15, 2011 Introduction
  Incineration or burning of garbage and other waste material is hazardous to the well being of Canadians. Nearly half of us will develop cancer in our lifetimes. About 75-80 percent of these cancers will be caused by our environment, i.e., the particles and chemicals that we breathe or otherwise come into contact with over the years. Diseases such as asthma and emphysema have historically been associated with the breathing fine particles. More recently to long term exposures to dioxins, furans, asbestos and heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic have been shown to cause numerous cancers, heart disease and other insidious ailments.
  
  Waste Incineration and Links to Cancer
  Prevent Cancer Now, a national organization focused on eliminating the preventable causes of cancer cites the following:
  Studies in the United Kingdom found an increased risk of childhood cancer, childhood leukemia and solid tumours of all kinds among children living near incinerators.
  Studies from France, Japan, Italy, United Kingdom and Sweden found that populations living near incinerators had a cluster of soft-tissue sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; a two-fold cancer-risk; increases in laryngeal cancer; increases in lung cancer or lung cancer mortality and generally higher risks of all cancers but specifically of stomach, colorectal, liver and lung cancer.
  Incinerator workers in Italy, the U.S. and Sweden had significantly higher gastric cancer mortality and a high prevalence of hypertension and excessive deaths from lung cancer and heart disease.
  
  
  Burning Methodologies
  Mass burn incinerators have been around for a very long time. Typically they force air into the fire to fully oxidize all the waste material. Modern incinerators, gasification, pyrolysis (starved air) and plasma arc technologies are touted as safer because they use very high temperatures to convert the waste into gas, liquid and solid residues. These gases, liquids or solids still contain toxic materials and must still be eliminated. Gasification incinerators typically burn the gas to generate electricity.
  Modern incinerators are capable of reducing toxic air emissions, but these systems are expensive, consume valuable resources, and ultimately lead to increases in green house gas emissions. Toxic air emissions can never be reduced to zero, and the toxic ash and liquids from these incinerators are still hazardous requiring careful disposal.
  
  Regulation and Monitoring of Toxins
  Real-time and continuous monitoring technology is not available for many pollutants including some of the most dangerous, such as dioxins. For example, the trial burning of demolition and construction waste at the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP) mill specified that only two dioxin samples per year were required for the trial monitoring regime. Dioxin emissions are not constant. They can vary drastically especially during start up and shut down operations. Relying on only two annual samples is totally inadequate.
  As well, environmental standards and safe emission limits often are not specified by jurisdictions. In these cases standards from other jurisdictions may be used as guidelines. Because of these limitations, enforcement of emission violations becomes difficult or nonexistent. The BC Ministry of the Environment (MoE) currently uses some Washington State standards for the HSPP burning trial.
  
  Green House Gas Emissions
  At first glance, incineration of waste to generate electricity appears to be a win-win situation. Waste is disposed of, and electricity is generated as a by product. However, many researchers would argue with this simplistic view. It can be demonstrated that recycling of waste materials has the least impact on climate change compared to all other forms of waste disposal including incineration. Green house gas emissions are reduced because reusing materials avoids having to re-extract, reprocess and remanufacture these same materials.
  
  
  Zero Waste Concepts
  The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) has stated the following with respect to Zero Waste concepts as an alternative to burning:
  Zero Waste creates jobs and is good for the economy. For example, U.S. recycling and reuse establishments employ 1.1 million people and gross $236 billion in annual revenues. Designing more recyclable, reusable and repairable products means more jobs for a vital industry.
  Zero Waste saves natural resources by reducing consumption and making new items from recycled materials. Ruining materials through thermal and combustion processes means more materials need to be extracted from the earth to replace those resources.
  Zero Waste conserves energy through reducing demand for extraction and processing of raw materials, which is energy intensive. EPA analysis shows that recycling is more energy efficient than combustion.
  
  
  Conclusion
  Prevent Cancer Now sums up the use of burning to dispose of waste as follows:
  All incinerators generate toxic emissions, including carcinogens, and are a leading source of dioxins globally. Since there are safer, more economical and flexible options, we should adopt the precautionary principle and move away from waste management options that pose a serious risk to human health and further degrade our environment.
  Furthermore, the burning of waste destroys resources and locks communities into very expensive contracts, which require large and predictable volumes of garbage over long periods of time to recoup the large initial capital costs. Far more energy would be saved and fewer health and environmental impacts – including cancer – would result from reusing, recycling and composting materials. In a world of depleting resources it makes no sense to incinerate materials when safer options exist.
  
  Note:
  
  Most of the material used to prepare this position paper appears in a few documents located on the Prevent Cancer Now organization’s web site: http://preventcancernow.ca/
  
  I have attached the references used by Prevent Cancer Now for added information.References:
  1. Canadian Cancer Society/National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2008 2-3
  April 2008, ISSN 0835-2976
  http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics/Canadian%20Cancer%20Statistics.aspx
  2. Environmental and Heritable Factors in the Causation of Cancer –Analyses of Cohorts of Twins from
  Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Original Article New England Journal of Medicine July 13, 2000 Vol.
  343:78-85
  http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/343/2/78
  3. American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures 2006 P.22
  http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2006PWSecured.pdf
  4. The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators 4th Report of the British Society for Ecological Medicine.
  Second Edition June 2008
  http://www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport_v2.pdf
  5. Best Environmental Practices and Alternative Technologies for Medical Waste Management
  Jorge Emmanuel, PhD. Health Care Without Harm, June 2007, Kasane, Botswana
  Eighth International Waste Management Congress and Exhibition
  http://pcn.suminc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/incineration-10.pdf
  6. Health Canada – Dioxins and Furans It’s Your Health
  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/dioxin-eng.php
  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/alt_formats/pacrb-dgapcr/pdf/iyh-vsv/environ/dioxin-eng.pdf (pdf document)
  7.Canada-Wide Standards for Dioxins and Furans (2001)
  http://www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/d_and_f_standard_e.pdf
  8. CCME Review of Dioxins and Furans from Incineration in Support of a Canada-wide Standard Review
  http://www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/df_incin_rvw_rpt_e.pdf
  9. Plasma Arc Technology for Municipal Solid Waste: A Proven Technology or Incinerator in Disguise?
  Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. March 2008
  http://www.greenaction.org/incinerators/documents/GreenactionGAIAExposeOfFloridaPlasmaArcIncinerat
  orInDisguiseProposals030908.pdf
  10. Incineration and Gasification: A Toxic Comparison. Blue Ridge Environmental Defence League. April
  2002 http://www.bredl.org/pdf/gasification-massburn.pdf
  11. Gasification, Pyrolysis & Plasma Incineration Fact Sheet Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
  http://www.no-burn.org/article.php?id=283http://noburn.live.radicaldesigns.org/search.php
  12. Incineration and Human Health. State of Knowledge of the Impacts of Waste Incinerators on Human
  Health Allsopp, M. Costner, P. and Johnston, P.
  http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/incineration-and-human-health.pdf
  13. Generic Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment Study. Durham York Residual Waste Study
  June 2007. Report No. 1009497.02
  http://www.durhamyorkwaste.ca/pdfs/study/processing/Residual%20Waste%20Study%20-
  %20Generic%20Risk%20Assessment_Exec%20Summary.pdf
  14. After Incineration: the Toxic Ash Problem. Petrlik, J. Ryder, R.A. April 2005 4,7-8.
  http://english.arnika.org/keepthepromise/docs/ASH_report.pdf
  15. Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA) IDEA Position on Incineration
  http://www.ideaireland.org/incineration.htm
  16 .The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators 4th Report of the British Society for Ecological Medicine, Dec. 2005
  http://www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport.pdf
  17. Waste Incineration: A Dying Technology. Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance July 2003.
  http://www.no-burn.org/downloads/Waste%20Incineration%20-%20A%20Dying%20Technology.pdf
  18.Ontario Ministry of the Environment Guideline A-8 (2004)
  http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/gp/4450e.htm
  19. Durham/York Residual Waste Study. Letter to Ontario Ministry of the Environment June 11, 2008.
  http://www.durhamyorkwaste.ca/pdfs/study/efw_facility/MOE-Letter.pdf
  20. GAIA Incinerators Trash Community Health June 2008
  http://noburn.live.radicaldesigns.org/downloads/Incinerators%20Trash%20Community%20Health.pdf
  21 The Pembina Institute – 4 Incineration Fact Sheets: Impact on Global Warming, Pollution, A
  Reasonable Energy Option and Understanding the Costs and Financial Risks
  http://www.pembina.org/pub/1449
  
  
• Working with the District of Sechelt toban land clearing burns by developers
  
  Posted: Wed June 15, 2011 The Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society is working with the Mayor and Counsellors of the District of Sechelt to amend the current burn bylaw by banning the burning of land clearing debris by developers. This ban will improve air quality.
  
  Alternatives to burning are now available, such as chipping and grinding through Salish Soils, a Sechelt business. Salish Soils takes land debris and garden wastes, mixes them with fish wastes from the fish farms, and by applying high heat, turns all this waste into compost and top soil. It's a local, green, sustainable business.
  
  In addition, the Clean Air Society is working to maintain a total ban on back yard burning. Homeowners can mulch and chip without resorting to burning. They can also take their garden wastes to the land fill for free thus, again, negating the need to burn. A good educational effort is needed to help homeowners transition to non-burning alternatives.
  
  So much is now known about the health hazards of smoke and invisible particulate matter on the lungs due to open burning. Since there are alternatives to burning, we should come out strongly in favor of health and protect against respiratory diseases.
  Campfires for food and ceremonial purposes are still allowed.
  
  Please encourage people you know to chip, mulch, or take their debris to the landfill for free. This helps us all with cleaner air.
  
  
  by Elizabeth McNeill
  
  
• ‘Black carbon’ key to tackling climate threat: UN report
  
  Posted: Wed February 23, 2011 SOURCE: TERRADAILY
  
  ------------
  
  
  Curbing sooty particles emitted by burning biomass and smog caused by traffic fumes would slow the onslaught of climate change and deliver many health benefits, a UN report said here on Wednesday.
  
  Removing these sources of pollution by 2030 would clip 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) off the expected 1.0 C (1.8 F) rise in global warming by mid-century, it said.
  
  The biggest beneficiaries would be the Arctic, the Himalayas and other glaciated regions that are highly vulnerable to warming.
  
  Health benefits would be almost immediate, by ending a major source of respiratory illness, it said.
  
  The report, authored by specialists for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has been submitted to environment ministers from around the globe.
  
  They are meeting in Nairobi until Thursday for talks on how to overhaul governance of the world's environment ahead of a gathering next year to mark the 20th anniversary of the famous 1992 Rio Summit.
  
  The 32-page report touches on two major pollutants: "black carbon," or soot-like particles that are emitted by burning wood or biomass, and ground-level ozone, a gas that results from a chemical reaction between traffic exhaust fumes and sunlight.
  
  Clouds of black carbon become charged with heat by absorbing sunlight,and can alter weather patterns such as the monsoon.
  
  Black carbon is a respiratory hazard, as is ozone, a triple-atom molecule of oxygen that in the stratosphere plays an important role in shielding Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
  
  Man-made ozone in the lower levels of the atmosphere is a major component of smog and the third biggest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide -- the direct byproduct of burning fossil fuels -- and methane, which comes from forests and land use. It is also damaging to plants.
  
  Pam Pearson of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, said that in glaciated regions, temperatures are rising at double the rate of increase elsewhere.
  
  The Arctic was especially hit because it was close to the industrialised countries of the northern hemisphere.
  
  "Some scientists estimate the impact of just black carbon that lands on ice and snow may be as much as (the impact of) CO2 in the Arctic," she said on the sidelines of a presentation of the report in Nairobi.
  
  UN-led efforts to tackle global warming gases have been stymied by national differences over how to apportion the cost of weaning the world off dependence on oil, gas and coal and improving energy efficiency.
  
  The new report said that addressing black carbon and ozone through pollution controls offered early benefits in addressing the warming problem, although this did not exclude the urgency of tackling fossil-fuel CO2.
  
  It did not make any estimate of the cost, saying further work on this was needed.
  
  Daniel Reifsnyder, US deputy assistant secretary for the environment and sustainable development, told the experts gathered that a two-pronged attack was needed.
  
  "We all need to recognise that slowing the near-term rate of warming by acting on short-lived forces does not buy us time to act on carbon dioxide," he said.
  
  "We need to act now on CO2 because today's emissions will affect the earth's climate for centuries to come," he said.
  
  "What agreeing on near-term warming can do for us is to slow down the alarming rate of change we've seen in the Arctic and elsewhere, and in the process delay the onset of some feedbacks that further accelerate warming."
  
  http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Black_carbon_key_to_tackling_climate_threat_UN_report_999.html
  
  
• Clean Air Society Involved in Effort to Ban Developers’ Burns
  
  Posted: Thu September 30, 2010 This Fall the Sechelt Council will consider an amendment to the District of Sechelt's Burn Bylaw that will prohibit developers' burns. Currently the Burn Bylaw prohibits backyard burning. However when developers clear the land of trees, they are not prohibited from burning huge amounts of wood as long as they have a permit issued by the fire department. Sometimes these burns go on for days causing air pollution and difficulties for those with asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The current amendment would prohibit developers' from burning these slash piles.
  
  Many health problems are associated with wood smoke pollution. Exposure to particulates penetrates deep into the lungs and is linked to asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function. Dr. Paul Martiquet, Medical Health Officer for the Sunshine Coast, spoke in favor of a ban on developers' burns at a Town Hall Meeting in April of this year. Jeff Hoag, president of the SC Clean Air Society (SCCAS) testified at the same Town Hall Meeting saying that alternatives to burning already exist.
  
  The opposition to the ban on developers' burning would be from developers who oppose the increased costs of chipping or hauling the wood to Howe Sound Pulp and Paper to be used as hog fuel.
  
  A Tree Bylaw, passed October 2009 by the Sechelt Council, requires owners/developers of plots more than one hectare in size to submit a tree protection plan. This requirement might encourage developers to keep more trees on the lot, thus saving themselves chipping, hauling, or landscaping costs.
  
  Members of the SCCAS and some community organizations submitted personal public comment supporting a ban on developers' burns. Thank you for your help! Our comments let the Sechelt Council know that there's public support for this ban.
  
  Last Fall, Heather Waddell, director of the SC Clean Air Society, made a presentation to the Sechelt Council advocating a ban on developers' burns. The Council members were very supportive at that time. We're encouraged that an amendment to the Burn Bylaw that will ban developers' burns can be adopted. We'll keep you posted.
  
  Submitted by Elizabeth McNeill
  
  
  
• Burning Construction and Demolition Waste at HSPP - Green Energy? by SCCAS member Louis Legal
  
  Posted: Wed September 29, 2010 Information from SCCAS member Louis Legal, retired meteorologist
  
  
  Minister Stockwell Day announced in Gibsons last Wednesday that the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP) mill was receiving $37 million in federal funds for boiler upgrades. The mill’s president, Mr. Palmiere, said that these upgrades would allow the sale of significant amounts of electricity to BC Hydro. As a result HSPP will become BC’s largest independent power producers (IPP). As well he indicated that this was green energy because it displaced the burning of natural gas.
  
  Indeed there will be a reduction in the emission of green house gases (GHG) because wood is considered a renewable resource. I congratulate the HSPP mill’s management for acquiring this grant and helping to reduce its CO2 pollution. The mill also announced that it is hosting two public open houses so that we can learn more about its application for a permit amendment to allow the burning of construction and demolition (C&D) waste.
  
  On October 26, 2009 the provincial Ministry of the Environment (MoE) granted HSPP a two year permit variance allowing the burning of up to 5200 cubic metres (one barge) of C&D waste per week. A number of monitoring conditions were attached to this variance.
  
  Unfortunately, C&D waste contains plastics, preservative treated woods, manufactured glued woods such as OSB, plywood and particle board, and paint possibly even lead-based paint. These materials emit potentially hazardous toxins into the atmosphere when burned.
  
  The mill management has argued that the emissions measured during the two year variance exercise were the same during the burning of C&D waste as with the burning of normal hog fuel. They also say that the sorting procedures of their suppliers ensure that the amounts of potentially toxic materials are minimal.
  
  Recent history with coal burning and with C&D waste burning at the mill strongly suggests that management at the mill has not acted with good will and integrity. Given this behaviour, it is imperative that MoE implement safeguards to protect our communities.
  
  Prior to granting any permit amendment, MoE must:
  
  - Monitor all emissions independently of those measured by the mill. Potentially toxic emissions include dioxins, furans, arsenic, lead and others. Industry cannot always be trusted to do the right thing. For example, the tar sands industry in northern Alberta claimed that they were not dumping toxic waste into the Athabasca River. Dr. David Schindler proved them wrong.
  - Explicitly prohibit or limit the content of certain waste materials to very small percentages as other jurisdictions have done. These of course include plastics, preservative treated woods, manufactured woods containing glues, and painted material from demolition sites.
  
  Local citizens should attend the open houses on September 22nd in Gibsons and on September 23rd in Squamish. The government recently boasted that BC would Lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none. Let’s hold the government to this pledge.
  
  
• April 15th marks the start of Clean Air Season!
  
  Posted: Thu April 15, 2010 From April 15th to October 15th, open burning (aka burning of a Class B pile) is not allowed.
  
  Here's what a Class B pile is defined as: A small backyard fire for burning waaste material. The accumulations are normally hand piled, garden refuse materials and may be contained within an incinerator.
  
  Enjoy the Clean Air!
  
  
  
  
• Removing one ton of black carbon will have the same effect as removing 2,000 to 3,000 tons of CO2
  
  Posted: Tue November 24, 2009 How bad is wood burning on climate change?
  
  "removing one ton of black carbon will have the same [climate] effect as removing 2,000 to 3,000 tons of CO2," says climatologist Veerabhadran Ramanathan of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
  
  This is one reason why the Clean Air Society is strongly opposed to any unnecessary wood burning.
  
  
  Source:
  http://www.newsweek.com/id/220552/page/3
  
  
• Progress and more progress for the SCCAS
  
  Posted: Fri June 26, 2009 Tymax Industries has been approved for a curtain burner to be located near Sechelt. They have advised us that they will not be proceeding with the burner and will instead grind and compost or ship out wood waste generated from the mine site. This will alleviate concerns about smoke from the curtain burner as well as drastically reduce or eliminate the smoke that has been produced in the past. We are meeting with Tymax on June 26 to hear about their plans to dispose of biomass responsibly.
  
  We are currently working on proposals for bylaw changes for all areas of the Coast and should have a presentation ready in July. These changes will address all outdoor burning.
  
  We received a corporate donation of $1,000 this month and we have received a grant of $2,400 for the Wood Stove change out program and expect more grant money for the program in the Fall. We have done some advertising in the local papers which has increased our profile and membership. The District of Sechelt has asked to work with us on the wood stove program. We will be sending out a brochure to all residents of the Sunshine Coast advertising the program. We plan to do this in conjunction with a fireplace dealer.
  
  There was a presentation to the District of Sechelt Committee of the Whole on June 10, 2009 by Heather Waddell under the banner of the SCCAS, concentrated on the smoke pollution that comes from land clearing and development. It touched on serious lung health issues, the topography of the area and confusion over open burning regulations. The result was a recommendation "that staff, in consultation with the Chief of the Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department, prepare a report on potential amendments to the Backyard Burning Bylaw to restrict land clearing burns." It is hoped that other concerned stakeholders will have a say, perhaps by forming a working committee.
  
  
• Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill is burning plastic
  
  Posted: Sun February 08, 2009 This is an article from the Coast Reporter on Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill burning plastic:
  
  Burning plastic raises concern
  
  Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP) is burning plastic, but it is not burning added recyclable plastic as suggested in a report by a Lower Mainland media outlet earlier in the week, said Al Strang, manager of environment and external relations for HSPP.
  Strang said the plant has been burning wood waste that contains less than four per cent plastic for about three years.
  
  "We believe that we have all of the necessary permits to burn the fuel we are getting," Strang said. "It is plastic that is attached to the wood, vapor barrier type plastic, found in construction sites."
  
  Strang was definitive in his answer when he said HSPP has not, is not and has no plans to burn wood waste with added, recyclable plastic such as yogurt containers and milk jugs. While Urban Wood Waste, the Lower Mainland company that supplies the product, does add plastics for another company, HSPP does not receive that mix.
  
  "There is less than four per cent plastic in one barge a week that accounts for one seventh of the total wood strain [burned]," said Strang. Strang said the fuel is used to generate heat and electricity at HSPP and because the mill cannot get all the fuel they need to burn right here on the Coast, they bring in about 20 per cent a year from Urban Wood Waste.
  
  Strang also said he has put no more effort since last October into a proposed partnership to build a thermal power plant to incinerate garbage. Dan Bouman, executive director of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, said he received several phone calls this week after residents heard about the news story. He said he contacted Strang to ensure that the Coast community, that is so dedicated to recycling, were not having plastics burned at HSPP.
  
  "I got a statement from Al Strang and I accept that. I believe him," Bouman said.
  
  Critics like Louis Legal, a member of the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society and Sunshine Coast Council of Senior Citizens of B.C. co-chair, argue the burning of all plastic is hazardous to the environment.
  
  Legal said he was not aware that HSPP was burning any plastic.
  
  "The issues are, of course, air pollution from burning plastics and the disposal of the residual ash from the burning process … it requires more investigation," said Legal.
  
  Dion Whyte, manager of sustainable services for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), sent an email to directors to share with constituents that had Strang’s information regarding plastic burning at HSPP.
  
  While not incorrect, the information from the original news story was understood by several local people, who contacted the SCRD and Coast Reporter, to mean that HSPP was burning added recyclables.
  
  In his message, Whyte wrote: "Monitoring of emissions from HSPP’s facility continues to be the responsibility of the provincial government. Emissions from the facility must not exceed permitted levels. No recyclable materials from recycling programs on the Sunshine Coast (or anywhere else) are being burned as fuel at HSPP."
  
  The Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society was putting together an official statement regarding the matter, but did not submit it to Coast Reporter by deadline Thursday morning. The Ministry of Environment was also contacted, but no official statement was given to Coast Reporter.
  
  
  Here's a link to the original article
  
  
• Drop in U.S. air pollution linked to longer lifespans
  
  Posted: Wed January 21, 2009 Here's one reason why the Clean Air Society exists - to extend the length and quality of lives.
  
  Americans are living longer because the air they breathe is getting cleaner, a new study suggests. The average drop in pollution seen across 51 metropolitan areas between 1980 and 2000 appears to have added nearly five more months to people's lives, according to a study published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
  
  Residents of cities that did the best job cleaning up air pollution showed the biggest jump in life span; for example, Pittsburgh's clearer air meant people there could expect to live nearly 10 months longer.
  
  "Here's a situation where we say, 'We think that improving our air quality should improve health and life expectancy,' and so we did it, in many cities more so than others," says lead researcher C. Arden Pope III, Ph.D., of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. "We wait a couple of decades and see if it really helps, and the answer is that it did, and that's good news."
  
  Long-term exposure to dirty air -- specifically, the tiny specks known as fine-particulate air pollution -- shortens lives and contributes to cardiovascular and lung disease. Particulate matter is inhaled almost like a gas and is thought to hike blood pressure, heart attack risk, and the chance of heart disease-related death.
  
  The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommends that heart patients avoid driving for two to three weeks after leaving the hospital to avoid pollution (and stress). Other research has suggested that a nonsmoker living in a polluted city has about the same risk of dying of heart disease as a former smoker. Health.com: 5 ways to keep pollution from harming your heart
  
  Gas and diesel engines, coal-fired plants, steel mills, smelters, refineries, and other industrial processes involving burning at high temperatures produce these particles, which are no bigger than 2.5 microns across -- or about one-fortieth the diameter of a human hair. "Those are the ones that can penetrate deeply into the lungs and cause most of the health problems," says Pope.
  
  The Clean Air Act of 1970 set nationwide air quality standards and motor-vehicle emissions standards for the first time, and the federal government and some states have continued to take steps to tackle air pollution. Health.com: Both indoor and outdoor pollutants linked to heart problems
  
  Thanks to these efforts, U.S. air quality has improved. Pope and his team decided to use U.S. data on fine-particulate matter concentrations and life expectancy from the late 1970s and the late 1990s as a "natural experiment" to determine whether cleaner air had any effect on health.
  
  They plotted pollution data for 1979-1983 against 1978-1982 life expectancies for 217 counties within 51 metropolitan areas around the country. Then they compared 1999-2000 pollution data with 1997-2001 life expectancies. Finally, they looked at how changes in life expectancy related to changes in air pollution for both time periods. Health.com: 10 risk factors for heart disease
  
  Many other factors can boost life expectancy, such as increases in income and education and reductions in smoking prevalence, so the researchers used statistical techniques to control for these and other relevant factors. After this adjustment, they found that the effect of air pollution reduction remained; for every 10 microgram per cubic meter decrease in fine-particulate air pollution, life expectancies rose by about seven months. Pollution levels averaged about 21 micrograms per cubic meter in 1979-1983 and had fallen to an average of 14 micrograms per cubic meter by 1999-2000.
  
  Life expectancy for the corresponding time periods rose from 74 years to 77 years. Pope and his team calculate that reductions in air pollution accounted for as much as 15 percent of the increase in life expectancy. Heath.com: Heart Quiz: What's your real risk?
  
  READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/21/healthmag.airpollution.lifespan/index.html
  
  SOURCE: CNN
  
  
• Lee Turnbull (area F candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 Thank you for the opportunity to clarify my intentions related to improving air quality on the Sunshine Coast. I look forward to seeing these comments on your website.
  
  I am very supportive of the Clean Air Society's efforts to promote clean air in our community. I voted to have Areas D, E, and F support the Gibsons Green Waste Site with tax contributions in order to encourage all south end residents to use alternatives to burning their green waste. I voted to give grant in aid funding to the Clean Air Society to promote their educational efforts, and to advertise the Green Waste site. I have also voted for the Roberts Creek Smoke Control Bylaw, and will be following the progress made in efforts to reduce burning within that fire protection district.
  
  Lee Turnbull
  Director
  Area F West Howe Sound
  
  
  
  
• Garry Nohr (area B candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 Will be following the Roberts Creek bylaw and the Provincial guidelines – I have already had a community meeting on burning with a small turnout. I intend to take the Roberts Creek bylaw and see how it fits for Halfmoon Bay and if it is better or worse than the new provincial guidelines. A new burning bylaw will be part of the next term.
  
  Garry Nohr
  Director Halfmoon Bay (Area B)
  
  
  
• Lorne Lewis (Area E candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 I supported the Roberts Creek Burning by law while it made its way through the SCRD committee and board process. What was discussed at the time was that if this by law was possible to implement then other areas could move towards their own burning by laws. For a by law to be successful it must have the respect of the public and be practical to enforce. As you might guess burning is a divisive issue in Elphinstone and considerable public consultation will be necessary for the prospective by law to gain popular support. It is topical to say that, after some waiting , that the Province is getting tougher on large burns... an action which I endorse and intend to see enforced in Elphinstone.
  
  This was done in Roberts Creek, and the intention is to model our Elphinstone process after it. The result in Roberts Creek appears to have public acceptance of the process and we look forward to see how implementation goes. Our volunteer fire departments don't have the resources to enforce such by laws so that job will fall on the shoulders our by law enforcement officers.
  
  So what I can promise is a fair and open process in working towards a by law. As the process in Roberts Creek lead toward a "made in Roberts Creek" solution, ours will be a "made in Elphinstone" solution. In the mean time I will encourage residents to use the green waste facility or to compost rather than burn. In Elphinstone we support the green waste facility on Henry Road through our taxes and many of our residents use it. I have brought this up at many Elphinstone Electors meetings and in a number of flyers, I will continue to support the use of this facility and to encourage residents not to burn.
  
  Thank you for this opportunity.
  
  Lorne Lewis
  SCRD Director for Elphinstone
  
  
• Frances Wasserlein (Area B candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 Thanks for asking for my response to Halfmoon Bay & Secret Cove residents concerns about outdoor burning. Here is my response:
  
  I am concerned with the issue of air quality, especially particulate matter in the air. I support the limitation that outdoor burning occur only twice per year for a one week period when conditions are appropriate and that burning of toxic materials be banned along with burning of construction materials.
  
  I do, however, have difficulty with limiting outdoor burning to properties one hectare or larger in Halfmoon Bay and Secret Cove. Where composting leaves and other yard waste is not appropriate we need to find a solution for the vast majority of the smaller properties in our area.
  
  Consequently, I want to encourage further discussion with the residents of Halfmoon Bay and Secret Cove to explore alternates to burning yard waste on standard-sized properties. Perhaps we can find agreement to having yard waste picked-up twice per year as part of our garbage collection services, thus greatly reducing the need to burn yard waste altogether.
  
  Frances Wasserlein
  Candidate
  Area B - Halfmoon Bay BC
  Sunshine Coast Regional District Board
  Municipal Elections - Voting Day - Saturday, 15 November 2008
  
  
  
• Robert Corlett (Area E Candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Sun October 26, 2008 Robert Corlett Area E Candidate
  
  Elphinstone is a community that places high value on protecting its rural character.
  
  As the elected Director for Area E it would be my job to reflect the wishes of the majority of its citizens. When going door to door we have had several discussions on burning.
  
  You may be interested in these comments and questions from Area E residents, which I have noted as I visit the constituency door to door:
  
  Why is untreated dimension lumber included as Construction Waste if it is clear of additives?
  
  Toxic materials, why would anyone intentionally burn these with today's knowledge? The greater community appears ready to accept a ban on this.
  
  There is confusion between "Class B Burn Pile" and "Outdoor Fire."
  
  People are unwilling to give up their right to have an outdoor fire for their enjoyment and heat their homes with wood. People are concerned that this is the thin end of the wedge that will eventually see them unable to enjoy their chosen lifestyle.
  
  
  
  Education is an important part in changing how we think. When we had our present property cleared thirty years ago the contractor used tires and diesel to light the stump piles. I would not allow this today.
  
  The majority of the population will respect the need of a few who have severe reaction to smoke when educated. Politeness goes a long way with most of us. I personally suffer severe headaches when exposed to perfumes, the smell from the heated paving oil that B A Blacktop stores uphill from my family, and excessive vehicle fumes. The management of B A Blacktop has been unwilling to meet with me to discuss how the situation could be improved. Every person that knows my reaction to perfume makes a conscious effort not to wear perfume around me. This was accomplished by having respectful conversations with them and giving consideration to there right to wear perfume. I had to stop attending Cap College because the closed circulation system made perfume ubiquitous throughout the building.
  
  Am I in favour of implementing bylaw No. 598 for Elphinstone?
  
  Not in its present form. From the comments and concerns that I am hearing going door to door it needs tweaking. There needs to be more education to have greater acceptance. There needs to be education and provision of methods to handle green waste instead of burning. If elected I will have public meetings on this issue to work towards finding a solution that respects the needs of the citizens of our community. I suspect that with proper education and provision of services we could end up with a bylaw that could further restrict burning and still allow outdoor fires and wood heat for our homes.
  
  When I look at section 4 of the bylaw I have to wonder why a large property (1hectare plus) would need to burn green materials? You are welcome to come see the composting piles on our property, they are un-obtrusive and create tonnes of organic material for our gardens. We have been composting in this manner for thirty years and have had no problems. I think that section 4 of the Roberts Creek bylaw could be tougher once people understand its purpose and have a doable alternative.
  
  Director Sugar has led the way, and it is time to head in this direction.
  
  Leaning how to have a fire that creates less smoke is a constant learning curve. It is only in the last few years that I have gone to burning hotter fires that are built top down and without paper to start. Could I be further educated? Absolutely, could I further improve my burning habits? Absolutely, I will listen.
  
  Thank you for eliciting a response from the candidates. The Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society does a great job of educating in a polite way that may not elicite change as fast as some would like, but the goal of cleaner air is being achieved. Now if we could only work on banning perfume.
  
  
  
  Rob Corlett
  
  Candidate for Area E
  
  
• Ask the candidates
  
  Posted: Sun October 26, 2008 On October 18, 2008 the SCCAS sent the following email to all the candidates of the SCRD:
  
  

  Greetings;
  
  The following article was published in the Coast Reporter in early June, 2008. Donna Shugar's proposed changes to the open burning bylaw will be in effect in Area D on January 1, 2009.
  
  The bylaw can be viewed on the SCRD website or: http://www.scrd.ca/files/File/Bylaws/598-Roberts-Creek-Smoke-3rd-reading.pdf
  
  It is our belief that this bylaw should be in place for all residents of the SCRD. We would like to know your position. We ask that you provide a written response to this email, stating your position as to whether you will adopt the same bylaw for your area and if not, what do you intend to do to improve air quality on the Sunshine Coast.
  
  All responses will be posted on the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society website http://www.cleanaironthecoast.com
  
  Please respond (reply to this email) no later than October 31, 2008.
  
  Thank you for your cooperation,
  
  From the Board of the Sunshine Coast Clean AIr Society
  
  CLEAN AIR NEWS
  
  Kudos to SCRD Staff for working on the proposed burning bylaw, for the Roberts Creek Area mentioned in the Coast Reporter on June 6, 2008. Donna Shugar, Director for Roberts Creek (Area D) has been immeasurably effective in advocating for this cause and bringing about essential change.
  
  As noted the proposed bylaw will allow ONLY properties larger than one hectare to have a burn and ONLY twice a year for legal backyard burns (one in April and one in the fall). We hope that Donna's work will encourage Directors from Areas F (West Howe Sound), E (Elphinstone), A (Egmont-Pender Harbour) and Area B (Halfmoon Bay) to also support changes to the burning bylaw.
  
  As residents of the beautiful Sunshine Coast, WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR. If you support clean air practices, please contact your AREA DIRECTOR to advocate for change!
  
  The Board of the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society

  
  
  The following are the responses we have received so far from our candidates:
  
  AREA B
  Gary Nohr
  Frances Wasserlein
  
  AREA E
  Robert Corlett
  Lorne Lewis
  
  AREA F
  Lee Turnbull
  
  
• Black Carbon Pollution Emerges As Major Player In Global Warming
  
  Posted: Fri August 22, 2008 Black carbon, a form of particulate air pollution most often produced from biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust, has a warming effect in the atmosphere three to four times greater than prevailing estimates, according to scientists in an upcoming review article in the journal Nature Geoscience.
  
  Soot in the higher latitudes of the Earth, where ice is more common, absorbs more of the sun's energy and warmth than an icy, white background. Black carbon, or soot, absorbs sunlight, while lighter colored ice reflects sunlight.
  
  Soot in areas with snow and ice may play an important role in climate change. Also, if snow and ice-covered areas begin melting, the warming effect increases, as the soot becomes more concentrated on the snow surface. "This provides a positive feedback (i.e. warming); as glaciers and ice sheets melt, they tend to get even dirtier," said Dr James Hansen.
  
  Elimination of black carbon, a contributor to global warming and a public health hazard, offers a nearly instant return on investment, the researchers said. Black carbon particles only remain airborne for weeks at most compared to carbon dioxide, which remains in the atmosphere for more than a century. In addition, technology that could substantially reduce black carbon emissions already exists in the form of commercially available products.
  
  Here's some articles on this topic:
  Black Carbon Pollution Emerges As Major Player In Global Warming
  Black soot and snow:
  A warmer combination
  
  
  
• Report on the Halfmoon Bay Backyard Burning Forum
  
  Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 There was a backyard burning forum in Halfmoon Bay on May 7 hosted by Gary Nohr (SCRD Director for Halfmoon Bay). In attendance were Paul Fenwick (General Manager of Community Services for the SCRD), Murray Smith (Conservation Officer), Greg Phelps (Halfmoon Bay Fire Chief), Donna Shugar (SCRD Director for Roberts Creek) and about 14 Halfmoon Bay residents.
  
  The officials each gave a brief talk about their role in the air pollution arena. The residents then split into 2 groups to discuss the issue of back yard burning.
  
  Most residents in attendance were opposed to back yard burning and would be prepared to pay increased taxes to facilitate alternatives. Some of the people in favor of burning, were in favor of some change to the bylaw. One couple said they only burned branches once per year after they had cured them under a tarp for the summer season. There seemed to be an understanding from the people in favor of burning that the smoke was a problem and should be kept to a minimum. There was also a willingness to stop burning if appropriate alternatives were offered.
  
  Gary Nohr will take the information gleaned from this meeting and publish the results in his upcoming newsletter. In summary, there was an obvious will from the residents in attendance to change the BYB bylaw and Gary Nohr seems to be willing to do this if the will is there.
  
  There was lots of reference to the SCCAS at the meeting so we are obviously making some impact.
  
  There were also comments about the runaround given to residents trying to report illegal back yard burns. This has been an ongoing issue with the answering service who, despite having been instructed otherwise, continue to discourage reporting. If you are reporting a violation in Halfmoon Bay, DO NOT let the answering service discourage you! When they start to ask you questions, just say, "Have Mr. Phelps call me", and leave your number. If you don't get a response, please e mail the SCCAS and we will contact Mr. Phelps directly.
  
  
  
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Other resources on this topic

• BC Air Quality
• Open burns on the Sunshine Coast: Photo gallery
• Model Municipal Bylaw for Regulating Backyard Burning (PDF: 2.5mb)
• Ventilation index for the Sunshine Coast/Central Vancouver Island area
• Presentation: Outdoor Burning in Rural Areas: A fresh Approach (pdf)

News on this topic from around North America

• 400+ Students Graduate From TMCC
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 15:37:46 -0700 Hundreds of students donned caps and gowns and graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College on Friday.
• Panel to Present Air Races Safety Recommendations
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 15:22:46 -0700 A blue ribbon panel will present its recommendations next Tuesday on how to improve safety at this year's Reno Air Races.
• Washoe County Bans Open Burning This Summer
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 15:07:49 -0700 The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District has issued a ban on all open burning in Washoe County this summer.
• Washoe restricts open burning for 'extreme' summer season
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 13:55:45 -0700 The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District will restrict open burning in Washoe County for the summer season, the county announced today.
• Truckee Meadows Fire rotection district issues ban on open burning
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 13:50:04 -0700 Truckee Meadows Fire rotection district issues ban on open burning
• Province-wide fire ban lifted
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 13:23:02 -0700 The province says it's lifting the blanket ban on fires in forested areas but bans in many municipalities remain.
• Briefly: May 18, 2012
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 10:44:46 -0700 Open fire ban Officials are bringing in a ban on open fires across the Coastal Fire Centre, including the Powell River Regional District, starting at noon on Friday, May 18.
• Public urged to be cautious with fire
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 10:37:00 -0700 NANAIMO – Fire officials reminding the public to be careful with campfires and cigarette butts.
• Burn ban remains in effect
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 08:37:53 -0700 ASPEN — Restrictions on open burning remain in effect in Pitkin County, though fire officials recently have allowed the selected burning of ditches, according to Ed Van Walraven, Aspen fire marshal.
• MANVILLE: Police blotter for week of April 23-29
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 00:51:44 -0700 A construction scene at 249 North Main St. created dust that activated a fire alarm, resulting in police, rescue and fire units being called just before 9 a.m. April 23.
• Open fire restricted across Coastal Fire Centre
  
  Fri, 18 May 2012 00:08:30 -0700 Effective at noon Friday, May 18 category two open fires and fireworks will be prohibited across the Coastal Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires.
• Forest Fires continue to burn across Northeastern Ontario. Fire ban in effect across Northeast.
  
  Thu, 17 May 2012 10:55:57 -0700 Timmins Fire 5 is under control. Timmins Fire 7 is still growing. Timmins forest fire No. 7, burning south of Gogama is still not under control and has been increasing in size. That fire is now more than 400 hectares. That fire was roughly 200 hectares on Tuesday.