The annual New York State DEC burn ban runs through May 14th with residential burning allowed to resume on May 15th. Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in New York State.
When temperatures are warmer and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily and be further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation.
Now that nice weather is finally here, remember, open burning of household trash is prohibited and releases dangerous compounds including arsenic, carbon monoxide, benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, lead, hydrogen cyanide and dioxin, among others.
Do Not Burn Household Trash❗️
- Burning trash is prohibited statewide in all cases. Our existing incinerator rule already prohibits burning household trash in wood stoves, fireplaces, and outdoor wood boilers.
- DEC recommends that you recycle all appropriate materials (such as newspaper, paper, glass and plastic) and compost your organic kitchen and garden waste.
- Burning leaves also is banned in New York State. We encourage you to compost leaves.
- Disposal of flags or religious items in a small-sized fire is allowed if it is not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation.
See this NYS DEC article for full details: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/58519.html