Burning Waste

Burning of waste involves low temperature fires which receive little oxygen and as a result produce significant volumes of polluting smoke.    Such burning can release noxious and toxic pollutants that can be inhaled by the public causing potentially adverse health impacts. 

The illegal burning of waste can cover a range of scenarios including: 

• Householders that burn waste outside at their own premises also known as ‘backyard burning’.
• Burning of cut tree limbs, hedge clippings, or other green waste resulting from landscaping/gardening works.
• Burning of waste from construction sites such as waste plastics and cardboard.
• Burning of waste at commercial/industrial facilities.
• Burning of household waste in open fires or other solid fuel appliances within the home. 

The burning of waste is an offence under the following legislation: 

• The Waste Management Act 1996 as amended
• The Air Pollution Act 1987
• The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009 S.I. 286/2009
• The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 S.I. No. 51/2022
• The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 S.I. No. 16/2023  

Household Green Waste:  

It is illegal to burn household waste at home or in your garden. You can incur a fine of up to €3,000 or 12 months in prison upon a summary conviction in a District Court.  

Agricultural Green Waste:  

Following the ending of the exemption for burning of agricultural green waste by farmers, farmers must adopt alternative sustainable practices for management of agricultural green waste.     For advice on these practices, download the following Guide: