Harris County commissioners previously implemented the burn ban Oct. 16 due to “ongoing dry weather and heightened fire danger,” Community Impact previously reported.
What you need to know
Outdoor burning is still not allowed in many counties across Texas, per the announcement. Additionally, outdoor burning in most cases is illegal in Harris County as it contributes to air pollution, according to Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, or HCPHES.
However, outdoor burning is permitted in some instances so long as it follows guidelines established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
According to HCPHES, authorized burns include:
- Domestic waste, if garbage collection is not provided by a municipality or utility district, however, businesses may not burn domestic waste
- On-site burning of trees, grass, leaves and other plant matter if TCEQ determines there is no other practical alternative
- Burning of crop residue for agricultural management if no practical alternative exists
Before you go
To promote public health and safety, HCPHES noted several alternatives to burning waste, such as:
- Recycling paper, glass, plastics, aluminum and small electronic waste
- Composting waste from landscape maintenance
- Mechanical chipping or mulching of wood and plant products
- Logging cleared trees for lumber, pulp or firewood
- Disposing of waste at designated landfills
