Burning in Rural Areas – Burn Barrels (ONLY 1 Per Residence)
A burn barrel must meet the height and circumference requirements as per the drawing below, anything larger or having more than 1 burn barrel could be considered illegal and does not meet the definition of a “burn barrel” !
Outside of municipal areas, Beaver Emergency Services Commission allows the use of burning barrels, but only for the disposal of BURNABLE DEBRIS, as defined by the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Properly prepared burn barrels with a mesh screen do not require fire permits. More information on burning barrels as per below or at the Beaver Emergency Services offices.
B.E.S.C. does not sanction the burning of household garbage, which contains PROHIBITED DEBRIS, as defined by the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Beaver Emergency Services Commission cannot, through a By-Law, regulate or control the burning of prohibited debris as it is covered by the Provincial Act. B.E.S.C. does not have the authority to enforce the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
“Burnable Debris” means all inflammable waste other than prohibited debris and includes but is not limited to:
- straw and stubble
- grass and weeds
- leaves and tree pruning’s
- wooden materials, which do not contain wood preservatives, from the construction or demolition of buildings
- brush and fallen trees on newly cleared land or associated with logging operations
- used power, telegraph and telephone poles
- solid waste from sawmills or planning mills with an annual production of less than 9500 cubic metres of lumber
- that do not contain wood preservatives
- solid waste from post and pole operations that does not contain wood preservatives
- solid waste from tree harvesting operations
“Prohibited Debris” means any inflammable waste that, when burned, may result in the release of the atmosphere of dense smoke, offensive odours, or toxic substances and includes but is not limited to:
- animal manure
- pathological waste
- non-wooden material
- waste material from building or construction sites, excluding wooden materials that do not contain wood preservatives
- rubber or plastic, or anything containing or coated with rubber or plastic or similar substances, except rubber or plastic attached to shredded scrap steel
- combustible material in automobile bodies
- solid waste from sawmills or planning mills with an annual production in excess of 9500 cubic metres of lumber
- tires
- used oil
- wood or wood products containing substances for the purpose of preserving wood
Complaints regarding offensive odours from the burning of prohibited debris should be directed to ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION CONTROL, 1-800-222-6514
