DENR Offers Guidance on Debris Disposal after Bonnie

RALEIGH – State environmental officials are urging citizens in counties hit by Hurricane Bonnie to stay tuned to local news announcements about how and where to properly dispose of storm debris. Counties may vary somewhat in how they want storm debris managed, where it should be taken, transportation routes, and hours for delivery.

"We're in the process of helping counties find disposal or temporary staging areas for debris, approving them, and working with air quality officials to find acceptable temporary burn sites for debris, if needed," said Dexter Matthews, chief of the Solid Waste Section of the state Division of Waste Management. State officials also are assessing damage to solid waste facilities, such as landfills and transfer stations.

Some counties may require the separation of natural and vegetative debris (such as tree limbs and stumps) from demolition debris (wall board, treated lumber, furniture, shingles, etc.) before disposal, Matthews said. If citizens have questions about the disposal of debris in their area, they should contact their county solid waste or public works department.

Before burning large amounts of debris, particularly within city limits, citizens also should contact the nearest regional office of the state Division of Air Quality (DAQ), which enforces the state open burning rule. The rule prohibits most outdoor burning, but allows people to burn natural storm debris, such as branches and downed trees. People are not allowed to treated and painted lumber, shingles, siding, and other man-made materials.

Allowable fires must be located at least 1,000 feet away from occupied buildings and prevailing winds should be away from roads and built-up areas. Burning also must be done between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For questions about burning, contact the DAQ's regional offices at:

• Wilmington, (910) 395-3900, in the southern coastal region from Brunswick County north to Carteret County.
• Washington, (252) 946-6481, in the northern coastal region from Currituck County south to Jones County.
• Fayetteville, (910) 486-1541, in and west of Bladen and Sampson counties.
• Raleigh, (919) 571-4700, in and west of Wilson, Edgecombe, Halifax and Northampton counties.

People wishing to burn storm debris within 500 feet of woodlands will need a permit from the N.C. Division of Forest Resources. For local information, they should contact their county forest ranger.

###