Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
Around this time of year, we get many calls complaining about smoky or smelly outdoor fires. To avoid complaints from your neighbours and a visit from one of our incident response officers, get familiar with the outdoor burning rules and consider alternatives to burning.
Under 2 hectares? You can’t burn outdoors
Remember that if your property is under two hectares (20,000 square metres), you can’t burn outdoors, even if you live in a rural area.
If your property is over two hectares, you can burn only paper, cardboard, untreated wood, and dry vegetation from your property and a neighbour’s property. Smoke must not cause a nuisance beyond your property boundary or be blown towards a township. If you live in a Clean Air Zone, you may only burn between 1 September and 30 April. For more information about the outdoor burning rules, visit our outdoor burning page.
Check it’s alright before you light
Before lighting any fires, visit checkitsalright.nz to find out whether your area is in an open, restricted or prohibited fire season and what you should do to keep yourself and others safe.
Rubbish fires are a no-go
No matter how large your property is, you must not burn rubbish. Burning rubbish causes toxic chemicals to be released into the air and creates a health hazard as well as a nuisance for you and your neighbours. Materials that must not be burned in Waitaha/Canterbury include:
- plastic
- metals
- batteries
- painted or treated wood
- rubber
- coated wire
- oil
- chemicals
- tar and bitumen
- materials containing asbestos
- containers that have stored hazardous materials.
Plastic and wood can be disposed of with general rubbish, but batteries, paint and hazardous materials need to be taken to a transfer station. Visit your local council’s website to find out how to sort your waste and the location of your nearest transfer stations.
Of particular concern in the rural environment is the burning of bale wrap and other household rubbish. Bale wrap and other farm waste can be recycled through Agrecovery or Plasback.
Burn only dry organic material
“Burning wet organics, like freshly felled trees for example, generates much more smoke than a dry burn. That’s when you get thick, black smoke that causes a real nuisance to the surrounding community,” said compliance team leader, north, Brian Reeves. “The smoke contains small particles that can irritate the nose and throat and even have more serious health impacts over time.”
Outdoor burning rules state that the moisture content of any material being burnt must not be greater than 25 per cent.
Alternatives to outdoor burning
Consider smoke-free alternatives for dealing with your green waste. Garden waste can go in the green bin or the compost. Grass clippings and leaves can also be used as mulch in the garden.
Cooking outdoors is allowed
Whether you prefer a barbecue, pizza oven, hāngī or umu, you can cook outdoors as long as the smoke is not offensive or objectionable beyond your property boundary.
How to report outdoor burning
If smoke from outdoor burning is causing a nuisance for you, call us on 0800 765 588 (24 hours) or use the Snap Send Solve app to report an issue from your mobile phone.
