Press "Enter" to skip to content

County still getting complaints about burning of household waste

Open burning of household waste is not permitted in Gloucester County, but environmental programs administrator Scott Rae said he receives several calls each month about residents doing that type of burning.

Some of the complaints appear to be disputes between neighbors, he said, and some of the complainants are regulars.

Rae said the ordinance states that illegal burning of household refuse could be prosecuted as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with maximum of 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. Permitted debris burns, such as yard waste, can result in a person being charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, with a fine up to $500, if the burning occurs too close to a neighbor’s property.

The county ordinance defines household refuse as "solid waste normally accumulated by a household in the course of ordinary day-to-day living."

Rae said that burning household waste is prohibited because it can cause "noxious odors."

"Burning trash in the open produces many pollutants," an En...

To view the rest of this article, you must log in. If you do not have an account with us, please subscribe here.