Dubbo Regional Council reminds residents to be aware of the restrictions on burning rubbish and vegetation in the open.
The burning of these materials outside in a residential area is prohibited all year round, however recreational fires including bonfires are permitted subject to only dry clean wood being burned.
Smoke created from ‘backyard burning’ is a major cause of air pollution which can cause damage to the environment and respiratory complications to residents.
‘Backyard burning’ is prohibited by the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2022 which provides regulatory measures for smoke emissions.
Under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2022 Dubbo Regional Council officers and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) can take action where they’ve established that there has been a breach of legislation, including the issuing of on-the-spot fines of $500.
Instead of burning dead and dry vegetation Council encourages the recycling or re-use of vegetation through methods like composting and mulching. Alternatively, it can be disposed of in Council’s garden organics waste collection service by putting the vegetation in the green-lidded bin, collected every week, or dropped off at any of Council’s waste management facilities.
