News
On August 1st the Sechelt Council passed Bylaw 486 which prohibits open burning for the purpose of land clearing for development beginning Jan. 1, 2014. After Jan. 1, 2014, developers can no longer burn and will have to use other methods, such as chipping, to dispose of the wastes from land clearing.
This bylaw has been in the making for about four years, and it’s adoption is good news to many community, health, and environmental organizations that have supported it. Many children, adults and elderly residents with respiratory illnesses, including asthma, have suffered when smoke from the developers’ fires hung in the air for sometimes days. Passage of this bylaw is good for obvious health reasons.
The Sechelt Council incorporated suggestions by Paul Martiquet, M.D., medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, which increased set backs from schools and hospitals for setting a fire so as to protect those who are ill and young from the health effects of smoke. For example, there can be no fires within 500 metres of schools in session, hospitals, and facilities used for continuing care as defined under the Continuing Care Act.
Previously there was a 100% ban on backyard burning. This new bylaw opens a window from Oct. 15th to 31st where residents can burn backyard wastes though no toxic materials - like rubber tires, tar, asphalt, batteries, electrical wire insulation, plastics, fuel and lubricant containers, animal waste, and all similar substances which produce heavy black smoke - can be burned. It’s also illegal to burn garbage, construction waste, or demolition waste.
Opening a two week window in October is a two year pilot program during which time the District plans to conduct an education campaign to encourage residents to take backyard wastes to the landfill for free, use chipping, and learn to compost and mulch. The 100% backyard burn ban was difficult for some with extenuating situations, and many residents don’t know how to mulch or compost. The goal at the end of two years is to reduce and eliminate backyard burning as people adopt alternatives to burning.
There’s been some misunderstanding in the District regarding campfires. According to Bylaw 486, campfires are ok if they are no more than one metre in height and one metre in diameter, do not create a smoke or spark nuisance to a neighbor, or do not contravene and Federal, Provincial or Fire Department regulations. For example, under very dry circumstances there can be a provincial ban on all campfires. Campfires shall be contained in a fire pit, be clear of overhanging foliage, have access to a water hose, and be tended by someone 18 years or older.
Council discussion of this bylaw generated opposing opinions. All sides did a little give-and-take. Developers can burn until Jan. 1, 2014, and then they incur higher costs to dispose of wood waste when they can no longer burn. Those with respiratory illnesses live with smoke until Jan. 1, 2014, and then there will be no more large commercial burns. Homeowners too close to a developer’s burn will continue to have particulate matter fall on their houses, cars, and gardens until Jan. 1, 2014, and then no more.
Nothing in this bylaw precludes a developer from using non-burning methods, such as chipping, right away. Some have already done so. I hope more do so.
In less than two years, we’ll have cleaner air, and development of new residential and commercial projects will continue. We can have good health, clean air, and vibrant businesses.
In two years, hopefully, more residents will respond to the education efforts of the DOS, and more of us will use other methods, rather than burning, to get rid of our backyard wastes. If we light fewer fires in the first place, we decrease the chance of forest or house fires. The health benefits are substantial; and the health costs, paid by all of us, are reduced.