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EPD Announces Annual Burn Ban

May 1 marked the official start of smog season in Georgia, and for 54 counties throughout the state, the annual ban on open burning is now in effect once again. In the interest of public health, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) will be enforcing the ban through September 30, during the hot summer months when ground level ozone and particle pollution are more likely to reach unhealthy levels.

“Our top priority is to protect the health and well-being of Georgia citizens by reducing air pollution,” says Heather Abrams, Chief of EPD’s Air Protection Branch. Cooperation from the community will help people most at risk during this time. Those at greatest risk are the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.

Citizens and businesses in the 54 counties are not allowed to burn yard and land-clearing debris during the ban. Some activities, such as campfires and agricultural activities, are exempt. For more information about alternatives to burning, such as composting and chipping, please call the Department of Community Affairs at (404) 679-4940 or the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division toll-free at (800) 685-2443. Debris also can be hauled to a commercial processing/grinding/composting operation or to an inert or construction and demolition landfill. For a list of landfills in the your area, call EPD’s Solid Waste Management Program at (404) 362-2692.

Citizens can get more information on the open burning ban by calling their EPD District Office (phone numbers listed below), or EPD’s Air Protection Branch at (404) 363-7000. Small businesses can get help and information by calling EPD’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program toll-free at (877) 427-6255.

EPD District Office phone numbers are shown as follows along with the counties served by those offices:

EastCentral Georgia District Office: (706) 792-7744; Columbia, Richmond

Metro Atlanta District Office: 404-362-2671; Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Gwinnett, Heard, Henry, Rockdale, Spalding

Northeast District Office: 706-369-6376; Banks, Barrow, Butts, Clarke, Hall, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Putnam, Walton

West Central District Office: 478-751-6612; Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Troup, Twiggs, Upson

Mountain District Office: 770-387-4900; Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Douglas, Floyd, Fulton, Forsyth, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker