DEQ: Burning household trash is hazardous to your health and the environment

OSBURN — The Silver Valley has had a history of poor air quality for decades.

Pollution from the old smelting plant in Smelterville combined with our area’s unique air conditions (due in part to geography) created a real problem for many residents.

Today, much of those issues have been cleared up with the closure of the smelting plant many years ago.

What does still exist though are the unique air conditions that really sock in particulate matter.

Silver Valley residents certainly saw how this process works last summer when our area was plagued by weeks of sustained smoke from regional wildfires.

With the propensity for this stuff to linger around here, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) would like to remind homeowners that not only is burning household trash illegal- but it is also bad for you and the environment.

In a news release from IDEQ, they explain that “burning waste in barrels, stoves, or fire pits may seem like an easy way to dispose of trash, but it can contaminate Idaho’s air, water, and soil.”

Household trash contains products treated with chemicals, coatings, and inks that, when burned, emit hazardous pollutants into the air.

If this smoke is inhaled, it increases people’s risk for heart disease, aggravates respiratory ailments such as asthma and emphysema, and can cause rashes, nausea, or headaches.

Not to mention the ash residue may have concentrated amounts of toxic materials that can contaminate soil or ground water.

Dan Smith, IDEQ West Silver Valley Airshed Project Coordinator in Kellogg, stressed the importance of the alternatives to burning.

“It’s not legal and its not the way to go,” Smith said when talking about residents burning their trash.

“All they are doing is polluting the area.”

For household trash, Smith says to “take it to the transfer station” because “thats the responsible thing to do.”

Mike Fitzgerald, Shoshone County Commissioner, echoed Smith by explaining the convenience of the county transfer station.

“Everyone who pays their taxes in Shoshone County is allowed to take their normal house garbage there (the transfer station) for free.”

In addition to trash, both Fitzgerald and Smith point out that there are options for getting rid of fall yard waste beside burning it.

The transfer station, located at 52619 Silver Valley Road, Kellogg, also accepts yard waste and woody materials for free from all tax paying county residents (excluding contractors).

In the county’s largest city of Kellogg, they run a leaf pick-up program toward the end of October when the leaves really start to fall.

Craig Lewis, Superintendent of Kellogg Public, also told the News-Press that the city will also be placing roll-off dumpsters around town exclusively for this type of waste.

The locations of these dumpsters and the timing of the pick-ups will be determined at a later date.

Pinehurst also conducts a yard waste program now until the first snow fall.

City residents can place yard clippings, leafs, and garden waste outside of their house and it will be collected on Mondays.

Household garbage and large branches are not accepted.

Suffice to say, their are several alternatives to burning waste of any kind.

“There’s really no reason for folks to be burning,” Fitzgerald said.

“People do have options instead of burning it.”

The Shoshone County transfer station can be reached at 208-784-5190.