Consult Regulations and Bylaws on Outdoor Burning for information on provincial and municipal regulations on outdoor burning. The Who Can I Contact Page? provides phone numbers and links to local and provincial authorities for inforrmation on burning.
Even when burning is permitted there may still be local health impacts from smoke due to meteorological and venting conditions. Following Smart Open Burning Practices is crucial in order to minimize these impacts, but it won't eliminate them. Also ensure that you are not burning any materials that are prohibited under the the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. (Note: The Ministry of Environment is reviewing and revising this regulation through public consultation. See Proposed Changes to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.)
The Ministry of Forests and Range maintains lists of open-fire, campfire and forest-use restrictions: see Open Fire Bans. However, you may still need to contact your local fire department, municipal government, or the Ministry of Forests and Range to ensure that you are allowed to burn.
Much of the woody material that is disposed of through burning could be turned into a valuable product, such as compost, wood chips, particle board and wood pellets. It can also be used as fuel to fire congeneration plants, which simultaneously generate electricity and heat.
The Recycling Council of BC has put together an inventory of businesses and facilities in every regional district that accept household and business vegetative debris. See Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC): Directory of Alternatives to Open Burning.
To learn about relevant wildfire laws, see Backyard & Industrial Burning (PDF: 746 KB/2 pages), by the Ministry of Forests and Range.
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