Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter
Send news

News tags

mental health  physical activity  earthquake  vacancies  families  public health  children  funding  poverty  health determinants  social  Community development  planning  employment  healthy cities  volunteers  newsletter  youth  volunteering  nutrition  employment opportunity  housing  alcohol and drugs  maori  community engagement  rebuilding  wellbeing  disabilities  Lectures  counselling  Training  earthquake recovery  sustainability  event  community gardens  Community  seminar  Awards  stress  Community Groups  mens health  research  arts  smokefree  culture  men  exercise  migrants  community event  education  environment  resilience  human rights  health  medical  business  sport  conferences  survey  mental wellbeing  Courses  obesity  elderly  support group  environmental health  healthy food  health promotion  violence  pacific health  resources  rebuild  women  race relations  meeting  gardens  workshop  services  leadership  forum  water  disabled  repair  transport  prevention  pacific  dance  fundraising  asian health  sexual health  inequality  cancer  support  disasters  development  mindfulness  dementia  presentation  collaboration  health in all policies  data analysis  recovery  smoking  law  drugs and alcohol  technology  safety  cycling  Sleep  policy  parenting  media  hearing  walking  land  neighbours  social justice  qualification  resilient cities  information  community connection  consultation  oral health  bullying  depression  youth empowerment  young people  activities  non-profit  charity  harm  NURSES  addiction  disease  Communication  alcohol  symposium  submission  anxiety  accessibility  Relationships  eating  economics  Advocacy  eLearning  falls  parking  energy  efficiency  heating  insulation  advice  Eating Disorders  abuse  waste  Matariki  webinar  diabetes  workplace  Film  Climate Change  solutions  urban  management  economy  plan  restoration  Report  Vulnerability  welfare  parks  learning  awareness  emergencies  legislation  injury prevention  reading  Meeting Room  conservation  language  refugees  recreation  built environment  data  venue  urban design  Food  older people  finances  suicide  heritage  gender  recycling  breastfeeding  public  identity  Nursing  submissions  Rainbow  biodiversity  campaign  promotion  Gut Health  diversity  therapy  older adults  sexuality  computing  pollution  School Holidays  Arts Therapy  providers  gambling  Maori health  Cervical cancer  screening  trauma  autism  Governance  treaty of waitangi  care  mentoring  pets  relaxation  Professional Development  pornography  exhibition  history  discrimination  vaping  equity  lockdown  grief  rural  hygiene  participation  tourism  summer  intervention  warning  podcast  science  petition  swimming  roadworks  traffic  wildlife  beaches  pools  immunisation  vaccination  brain  preparation  open day  market  evaluation  noise  music  property  testing  crafts  CALD  cultural diversity  camping  creativity  child health  tamariki  climate action  Pasifika  refugee  migrant  community events  road safety  library  Hornby  skills  placemaking  regenerative communities  journey  reflection  regional council  councillors  water management  emergency management  retirement  stress management  Christmas  family  festival  alcohol harm  waterways  planting  health protection  legionnaire's disease  hepatitis  heatwaves  river beds  water safety  fishing  gardening  workshops  stormwater  biosecurity  volunteer  plant and animal pest management  politics  faith  crime  drugs  pregnancy  native birds  Waimakariri  water quality  schools  early childhood  health professionals  heart disease  kura  school  ethical issues  rangatahi  Linwood  running  donations  whanau  financial pressures  online  health professional  flooding  conflict  peace  winter  agriculture 

Embracing alternatives to outdoor burning

Wednesday, July 10, 2024   Posted in: Signatory Notice Board By: Administrator With tags: pollution, heating, winter

Environment Canterbury media release: 8th July 2024

Smoky outdoor fires can be an issue at this time of year. There are alternatives to outdoor burning that are better for our environment and won't impact air quality. 

Mulching and Composting

Mulch is used to cover soil. Laying down lawn clippings and leaves for mulching will enrich your soil and plant life. It traps moisture in the soil, which is beneficial in drought-prone areas, maintains nutrients, and helps prevent weed growth. 

Organic mulch can be made of bark, leaves, straw, and grass clippings.

Composting organic material like leaves, grass clippings, and food waste is great for your garden and reduces the amount of organic waste going to landfill - win-win! Composting is simple and can be done by anyone, you can even get your kids involved. All you need is a carbon-rich material (dried leaves, for example), nitrogen-rich material (food waste, manure), and water.

Lovefoodhatewaste has a guide to start your at-home compost.

Kerbside collection services or transfer stations

Use your kerbside collection service or take your rubbish to a transfer site to save you from managing an onsite outdoor burn.

You can find more information on collection or transfer sites on your local council’s website.

Recycling farm plastics

Farm plastics can be recycled through:

Outdoor burning requirements

You cannot burn outdoors if your property is under two hectares, even if you live rurally. You will need resource consent to burn green waste.

The only exception to this rule is outdoor cooking including BBQs, pizza ovens, hāngī/umu, as long as the smoke is not offensive and beyond your property boundary.

If your property is larger than two hectares, you can burn dry vegetation, paper, cardboard, and untreated wood only. Do not burn refuse.

Try one or more alternatives like mulching or composting before you burn. 

Burning requirements

You must meet the Fire and Emergency New Zealand restrictions and the following requirements if you decide to burn outdoors:

  • Burning is 100+ metres upwind and 50+ metres in any other direction from neighbours.
  • The material being burnt is dry; moisture content must be less than 25 per cent.
  • Smoke is not blown towards a township.
  • The material being burnt is from your property and/or only one of your neighbour's properties.
  • Smoke does not cause a nuisance beyond your property boundary.
  • A smoke management plan is completed if the burn will last 3+ days or for any crop residue burning.
  • If you are in a Clean Air Zone, burning only takes place between 1 September and 30 April.
    Check which Clean Air Zone you are in and any burning exceptions in your location.
  • Liquid fire accelerant used does not exceed 10 litres.
  • Burning is not within 100m of a national grid power line or substation (unless you have permission from the owner).

Banned materials

The following materials are not allowed to be burned in Waitaha/Canterbury:

  • Painted or treated wood.
  • Rubber.
  • Wire coated with any material.
  • Plastic.
  • Material containing asbestos.
  • Metals.
  • Batteries.
  • Used and waste oil.
  • Chemicals.
  • Tar and bitumen.
  • Paint and other surface coating materials.
  • Containers that have stored hazardous materials.

Contact Environment Canterbury if you are concerned about a burn in Canterbury.

You can also use the Snap Send Solve app on your phone.