Backyard burns banned residential Canterbury

Outdoor burning is now banned year-round on all residential properties in Canterbury region. It is also banned on rural properties in the Christchurch, Rangiora and Kaiapoi clean air zones during winter and on rural properties near sensitive activities year-round. People who burn outdoors in these areas risk a $300 fine.

“There are many easy alternatives to dispose of rubbish,” says Sir Kerry Burke, chairman of Environment Canterbury. “Most people on residential properties get rid of their rubbish in appropriate ways. It is good that we are starting to realise that we cannot simply burn everything we want to dispose of. We need to produce less rubbish and recycle wherever possible. Burning rubbish outside is often a nuisance to neighbours and the smoke is bad for health. In Christchurch and Canterbury towns outdoor burning also contributes to winter air pollution.”

Composting, using a shredder, bringing rubbish to a refuse station or using a private rubbish or green waste collection scheme are all better alternatives to burning, Sir Kerry said. Detailed information on the rules as well as information on alternatives to burning, for example the location of composting and refuse stations in Canterbury, is available from Environment Canterbury’s website www.ecan.govt.nz/outdoorburning.

Outdoor burning tops the list of complaints to ECan’s Pollution Hotline. Last year Environment Canterbury received 455 complaints on outdoor burning. “It clearly shows many people are concerned about smoke from outdoor fires,” says Sir Kerry.

The winter fire ban for rural properties in Christchurch’s clean air zones run from May 1 to August 31, in Rangiora and Kaiapoi from May 1 to September 30, with a year-round ban for residential properties region-wide.

The Christchurch clean air zones consist of the Christchurch City Council area excluding the Banks Peninsula Ward. For clean air zone boundaries, check Environment Canterbury’s website www.ecan.govt.nz/woodburner-rules or contact Customer Services 03 353 9007 or 0800 324 636. For any complaints about outdoor burning call the 24 hour Pollution Hotline on 03 366 4663 or 0800 76 55 88.