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Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565
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Air Quality
Outdoor air quality in rural areas can be affected by many things, including dust from unpaved roads, agriculture and industry operations, and individual trash burning. If you have specific questions or concerns about any of these or other air pollution sources, please contact our Environmental Health staff at 888-310-0565 ext 106.
Regulated industries have to put controls and filters in place to reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals they put out into the air. But open burning using a simple barrel or pile, which is sometimes allowed by special permit, does not provide these controls. A study completed in 1992 showed that one single trash burn barrel releases 8 times more dioxin (a very toxic cancer-causing substance) and 11 times more overall pollutants than a full-scale incinerator! The results were later confirmed by follow-up EPA studies. The reason for the higher emissions is because open trash barrels do not have filters, and burn the materials at a much lower temperature compared to incinerators, which releases more toxins into the air. Recent surveys completed by PHS suggest that approximately 15% of PHS residents dispose of their trash "on-site", either dumping* it or burning on their own property.
The best way to handle your household trash is to:
1. Keep it minimal
- compost your food trimmings
- take recyclables to the recycling center
- avoid using disposable things (like plastic grocery bags), and products with too much packaging
2. Send or bring your trash to a regulated dump or incinerator.
If you still want to burn your trash, make sure you get the proper NDEQ permit, and are not burning things that aren't allowed (like tires, railroad ties, etc.). Also, make sure you aren't in a location where the toxic smoke cloud will blow back on you, your family, or your neighbors.
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