SPRINGFIELD—The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) have developed a brochure, “Do You Have a Burning Question? The Facts about Open Burning in Illinois,” to educate citizens about the topic of open burning and its regulations.
The Illinois EPA receives numerous inquiries about open burning each year. This brochure is an informational resource for citizens and should help to ensure that any open burning done in Illinois is conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Open burning is defined as the combustion of any matter in the open or in an open dump. The Illinois EPA issues open burn permits for regulated activities, such as prairie burns, firefighter training, and disaster debris burning. While the Illinois EPA and the Illinois Pollution Control Board regulate open burning, local authorities may also have regulations within their own jurisdictions.
The brochure contains information on many types of open burning and associated permit requirements. For example, the burning of agricultural waste can include structures, crop residue and landscape waste that is generated on-site at a farm or ranch by crop and livestock production practices. This type of burning is not allowed in restricted areas, which include any city, village or incorporated township, plus a zone extending one mile beyond the boundaries where there is a population of 1,000 or more. Open burning of agricultural waste is restricted to the site where the waste is generated. The owner/operator must also show that no reasonable and economic alternative method of disposal is available. You may contact the Illinois EPA Agriculture Advisor at 217/558-6818 or the Bureau of Air for further guidance.