That time of year:
Fire permit and yard waste guidelines
by Brandon Mayer
Spring is now well underway! This time of year, yard cleanup is common. Cooler evening temperatures also serve as the perfect inspiration for campfires. Both of these activities – recreational fires and leaf and yard waste disposal – are governed by specific bylaws in North Dundas which can sometimes cause confusion for residents. Here are some general guidelines to help you navigate the local rules this year.
Leaf and yard waste
Traditionally, lead and yard waste has been collected on one or two specific days each year. During the May 7 council meeting, Mayor Tony Fraser commented that it has always been common for residents to miss the scheduled leaf and yard waste pick up day. Luckily this year, the rules have changed for the better. Residents can put out leaf and yard waste on their regular garbage day, beginning now (the third week of May) all the way until the end of November.
The idea for this change in leaf and yard waste collection – which is consistent with the rules set out by some other municipalities in the region – was originally introduced at the April 9 council meeting. The change will not cost any extra taxpayer money. At the May 7 meeting, Township staff noticed that since there was no bag limit in previous years when a leaf and yard waste collection took place on one designated day, it was not uncommon to see curbs packed with upwards of 10 bags. In order to make sure garbage collection continues to run smoothly and on time, there will be a 6 bag limit on leaf and yard waste per week. For yard clean up jobs generating more than 6 bags, residents can stagger putting out their waste over multiple weeks.
Open air burning
A common misconception is that campfires and other recreational fires require a burn permit in North Dundas. A campfire is defined in the local open air burn bylaw as “an open air fire where the material to be burned does not exceed 60 centimetres in diameter and 60 centimetres in height, that is set and maintained solely for the purposes of cooking food, providing warmth, or recreational enjoyment, supervised at all times by any person sixteen (16) years of age or older.”
A recreational fire is defined as “a fire in an outdoor fireplace”, which is “a commercially manufactured, non-combustible, enclosed container designed to hold a small fire for decorative purposes, the size of which does not exceed 1 metre in any direction”.
Not only do these two types of fires not require a burn permit, but they are also not covered under a burn ban and can still be enjoyed during such a ban.
One prohibition that does apply to campfires and recreational fires is the restriction on burning in windy conditions. Open to some interpretation, the rule states that burning is not allowed when the direction or intensity of the wind may cause:
- The possible spread of the fire beyond the approved burn site
- Reduced visibility on any highway
- Excessive smoke; and/or
- A nuisance
The bylaw also prevents any burning when fog is present, and prevents the burning of certain materials, such as garbage, animal feces or carcases, painted or treated wood, gas and oil products, construction materials, and recyclable materials (except for paper and cardboard that are used to start the fire). Note that fires set for the purpose of clearing agricultural land require a burn permit, which comes with set rules, such as calling a specified number before commencing a burn, and not burning at night. The full bylaw is available for download by searching the internet for “North Dundas open air burning”.