Burn Ban Goes Into Effect on Sunday, May 1

ATLANTA, GA -- Beginning May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) open burning ban will be in effect for 54 Georgia counties, including Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Paulding and Rockdale counties.

The open burning ban has been in place during the summer ozone season since 2005. The open burning ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and landclearing debris from May 1 through September 30.

This restriction is in addition to a ban on the burning of household garbage, which is enforced year-round throughout Georgia.

Open burning also creates particle pollution, which consists of extremely small particles that can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. May through September is a time of year when people, particularly children, are more likely to be outdoors. The outdoor activity also coincides with the increase in groundlevel ozone and particle pollution. This is especially true of ground-level ozone since hot, sunny days can intensify the creation of ozone.

“We can’t control the weather, said Karen Hays, chief of the Georgia EPD Air Protection Branch. ”But limiting open-burning during these hot summer months when ground-level ozone is so readily formed is one of the easiest ways to help Georgia’s air quality continue to improve.”

Some actions such as campfires and agricultural activities are exempt. You can learn more about the open burning ban by clicking here.