Open burning is any time an outdoor fire occurs without a chimney or stack. Ohio EPA regulations limit what and where a person can open burn. When illegal open burning of household waste occurs, it releases into the air many toxic chemicals and is one of the largest known sources of dioxin in the nation, a volatile organic compound (VOC). Other air pollutants from open burning include particulate, sulfur dioxide, lead, and mercury. 

APC enforces Ohio EPA open burning regulations in Stark County. APC receives about 200+ open burning complaints per year with more than half found to be illegal open burning incidents. Open burning occurs more during the warm weather months which explains the curve.

Ohio EPA

Educating the public on environmental laws so they are informed to make responsible decisions is a long standing strategy to preventing violations of environmental laws. APC has found that after initial education to first time violators, they rarely repeat the violations in the future.

When APC responds to open burning complaints, they provide open burning education, including written materials, to the person(s) involved so they can be informed and choose to not violate in the future. APC has also provided open burning educational materials during community events for a broader reach. 

Since fire fighters are the first responders to open burning incidents, educating them on the Ohio EPA regulations allows them to also educate the persons they engage with.

• APC Monitoring staff to provide the Ohio EPA "Before You Light It" open burning educational brochure and/or other written material to individuals involved in open burning complaints during site visits and/or after incidents. - Starting January 1, 2024 - Ongoing
  • Each complaint with education provided will count as one person educated
• Community Engagement Specialist, Workforce Development Coordinator, or designee, provide the Ohio EPA "Before You Light It" open burning educational brochure during community events and tracks the number of brochures that are taken by community members. - Starting April 1, 2024 - Ongoing
  • Each brochure provided will count as one person educated
• APC staff attended Countywide Landfill Open House to share open burning information to attendees - Completed on 10/10/2024 - 20 attendees were educated by taking brochure and having discussion with APC staff.
• APC staff will provide training to local fire departments on Ohio EPA open burning regulations - Completed on 3/21/2024 at the Fire Data Exchange Association meeting held at the Jackson Township Fire Department - 49 fire fighters attended and were educated