"Open burning of household waste in barrels is potentially one of the largest sources of airborne dioxin and furan emissions in the United States"- US EPA

Arkansas State Air Pollution Control Regulations Section 18.6 (b) prohibits the open burning of waste materials. Specifically, it states that: "No person shall cause or permit the open burning of refuse, garbage, trade waste, or other waste material, or shall conduct a salvage operation by open burning."  

Household trash, tires, construction and demolition waste (including lumber and/or wood), etc. are considered waste materials and cannot be burned according to State Law.  

Many residents of Benton County continue to burn prohibited items -including household trash!  This is a habit passed down from generation to generation.  Unfortunately, the composition of household trash today has drastically changed from that of our grandparents' (or even our parents') time.  The District works to educate residents about the ban on open burning in order to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with open burning.  If you know of someone who is burning household trash or other prohibited items, please report this to Benton County Environmental Services.  You can contact them at (479) 271-1083 or you can email the information to them using the Complaint Form.  They will contact the person responsible and provide them with information on the laws and risks. 

• Recycle as many waste items as possible!  See Recycling Opportunities

• Household trash must be disposed of at a properly permitted landfill or transfer station. For-hire waste haulers provide waste pick-up services throughout Benton County.  See Waste Haulers for a list of local haulers.

• Waste tires may be taken to a local Waste Tire Collection Center.

• List of Local Landfill and Transfer Stations

For more information about the types of toxins released from open burning, see the EPA Report:  Evaluation of Emissions from the Open Burning of Household Waste in Barrels