By Gigi M. CamposSOMETHING SMELLS!
Negros Daily Bulletin
After more than eight years, the city of Bacolod took its first step towards an implementation of RA 2009 last April 1st. With this new policy of NO SEGREGATION, NO COLLECTION in place, the temptation to find other means of getting rid of garbage becomes very strong. Why? Because there are still some people who just don’t want to be bothered by the tedious task of segregating and may resort to the next easiest option - backyard trash burning. This is no longer allowed by RA2009, but in our country it has been a common method of disposing garbage, particularly in the rural areas. Many years ago when we used to live in the town of Pontevedra, I would see the household help of my in-laws religiously sweeping the dry leaves of chico, avocado and iba trees in the backyard in neat little piles and setting them to flame every afternoon. It was a common sight in many backyards.
It was also said that smoking fruit trees would ensure prolific produce when fruiting time came. Sure enough, we always enjoyed an abundant supply of fruits from just the backyard. Nobody knew of the dangers of backyard trash burning.
Burning backyard trash has been declared illegal because the burning of trash whether in a barrel, a pile or anywhere outdoors releases toxic smoke into the air. The content of the smoke emitted depends on the trash that went into the fire, the temperature of the fire and the available oxygen. Backyard trash fires can smolder and as a result produce greater amounts of harmful chemicals. Harmful chemicals can also be present in the ash from the fire.
Trash containing plastics, polystyrene (such as foam cups), CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) pressure-treated wood, and bleached or colored papers are the worst kind because these materials can produce harmful chemicals when burned. For example, when CCA pressure-treated wood which contains arsenic is burned, arsenic can be released in the smoke or remain in the ash.
A study by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) measured the types and amounts of many chemicals in the smoke from burning trash. For some of those chemicals, burning about 10 pounds a day of trash from a household burn barrel may produce as much air pollution as a modern, well-controlled incinerator burning 400,000 pounds a day of trash!! Emissions of dioxins and furans from backyard burning alone are estimated to be greater than for all other sources combined.
We are all at risk from trash burning. Smoke from any fire can affect our health, our family’s health and our neighbor’s health. The smoke from backyard burning is released close to the ground where people can easily breathe it. The smoke from the fire can deposit dangerous chemicals on garden vegetables and garden soil. People can be exposed to those chemicals by eating fruits and vegetables grown near the trash-fire or in garden soil tilled with the ashes. Young children may be at greater risk than adults because of their playing behaviors, their small size and their developing bodies.
The chances of developing health effects from contact (exposure) with smoke from backyard fires depends on how much smoke a person contacts, how a person is exposed (e.g., breathing the smoke or eating vegetables affected by the smoke) and how long and often the person is exposed. Some people may be more or less sensitive than others to chemicals in smoke. People exposed to smoke could experience burning eyes and nose, coughing, nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Some people find the odors produced by burn barrels disagreeable, and they may experience discomfort, headaches, and nausea. Smoke can trigger asthma attacks. People with heart and lung conditions are at greater risks for health effects. Repeated exposures to pollutants in burning smoke may occur when people burn trash on a regular basis, and this may increase the risk of chronic health problems. Of course, unattended backyard burning can also cause accidental fires.
Information from studies showed that smoke from burning trash contains particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, dioxins, furans and PCBs. Some of these chemicals are found in smoke from any fire. Although substances such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde can cause immediate health effects with enough exposure, some chemicals such as dioxin can build up in foods and in your body. Some of these chemicals can remain in the environment for a long time and can remain on your property (for example, soil outside and dust inside your home).
There are three ways burning trash can get chemicals into our bodies — breathing the smoke, eating food contaminated by smoke and ash, and playing in areas of contaminated soil or dust. Smoke and ash can settle on fruits and vegetables. If ash is mixed into the garden soil, chemicals can be taken up by crops. Chemicals can enter milk, eggs or meat if farm animals eat contaminated feed or soil.
We need to break the habit and stop burning trash. Here are some simple tips to avoid the need to burn your trash:
Reduce - Avoid waste. Buy fewer items and select products with the least packaging.
Re-use - Buy products that can be re-used and/or come in containers that can be re-filled.
Recycle - Learn about your community’s recycling programs. Dispose of your recyclables accordingly, and urge others to do the same.
Compost - Compost plant-based kitchen and yard waste.
Segregate - The only way you can get your trash collected and properly disposed of is if your trash and recyclables are segregated.
Let’s be considerate of your neighbors and stop backyard burning. Remember, it is not only a bad idea, it is against the law!*
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