Common questions about backyard burning

Burning wood and rubbish in open fires and incinerators can cause smoke, which is a major cause of air pollution.

There are rules in place because backyard burning can harm the environment and your health.

The Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2022 (the Regulation) provides regulatory measures for different air quality issues. These issues include:

• residential emissions such as wood smoke and backyard burning
• motor vehicle emissions
• industrial emissions.

The Regulation does not include hazard reduction burns.

Our Clean Air Policy provides clear direction to help you determine if dead and dry vegetation meets certain conditions. These conditions will allow you to burn without approval. Use the checklist to see if you meet the requirements to get automatic approval to burn your vegetation:

• Clean Air Policy (290.8 KB)

You will need to apply for formal approval from Council when:

• you can't meet all conditions of the self-assessment checklist in our Clean Air Policy. In this situation, you can apply for a merit-based assessment, or
• NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) requires that the landholder get Council approval. Please contact Moruya RFS on 02 4474 2855 for more information.
  • Application form: Approval to Burn Permit (222.4 KB).

During fire danger periods (usually 1 October to 31 March each year) fires are not allowed unless you also get a Fire Permit from RFS. The aim of the Fire Permit is to ensure you manage your fire in a safe way. A permit imposes conditions on the way a fire is lit and maintained. It also informs the authorities when and where the landowners intend to burn. This will ensure appropriate measures are in place.

You may also need a permit from RFS all year-round, depending on the type of fire. For example, a Fire Permit is necessary at all times if a fire is likely to be dangerous to a building.

If you obtained approval to burn (if required), you will need to:

• check whether a Total Fire Ban is in force on NSW RFS' website. If there is, your permit is automatically suspended
• check if NSW EPA declares a No Burn Day on the day you plan to burn
• ensure you have permission from the property owner before burning
• notify adjoining neighbours and people you're likely to affect by smoke. You should do this at least 24 hours before you light the fire
• notify the Rural Fire Service online or phone Moruya RFS on 02 4474 2855 at least 24 hours before you burn
• check the expected weather conditions
• make sure the largest burn pile size is 2m wide by 2m long by 1.5m high
• vegetation should only be burnt on the premises on which it grew
• ensure burning complies with NSW RFS' Standards for Pile Burning
• follow any conditions stated on your Fire Permit from RFS (usually during a fire danger period).

Council officers and RFS can take action where it's established there was a breach of the Regulation. This includes issuing fines.

No. Burning general rubbish and using incinerators is not allowed on residential properties in Eurobodalla. Only rural properties that do not have access to a domestic waste collection service can burn rubbish.

Eurobodalla's domestic waste collection service collects waste every week. We also service recycling and garden organics bins every fortnight.

If your property is within the domestic collection area, you can also take part in our yearly clean-outs for hazardous household chemicals and junk items too bulky for your bin.

Unless approved by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Regulation does not allow you to burn:

• tyres
• coated wire
• paint containers and residues
• solvent containers and residues
• timber treated with copper chromium arsenate (CCA) or pentachlorophenol (PCP).

If you have any of these items and you'd like to dispose of them, please contact Waste Services on 02 4474 1024 for advice.

You can also refer to Our A-Z guide on hazardous waste disposal. This guide outlines if and how you can dispose of these unwanted items at our waste management facilities.

You are not allowed to burn dead and dry vegetation in the open in a residential area. This includes incinerators and bonfires. We encourage property owners to recycle or re-use vegetation by methods such as mulching, composting, or as fuel for domestic heating.

We provide a waste collection service that includes garden organics (green lid bin) every fortnight from Eurobodalla residents who live within our domestic collection area. You can also take your green waste to one of our waste management facilities instead of burning it.

Property owners can request extra organics bins for a fee if you produce more green waste than can fit in your organics bin. You can do this by contacting Waste Services on 02 4474 1024.

The Regulation does allow for some exemptions for small fires. This includes cooking or barbequing - and for recreational purposes such as camping, scouting, and picnicking. This covers items such as fire-pits, braziers, pizza ovens and barbeques.

When operating such equipment, you should ensure that:

• a responsible adult is in direct supervision at all times
• a method of extinguishment is immediately available
• the fire does not cause a hazard or nuisance.

If you're concerned that the condition of vegetation on a property poses a fire hazard, please contact the RFS:

• W: NSW RFS
• T: Moruya RFS - 02 4474 2855