Don’t use Halloween bonfires to burn waste
HOUSEHOLDERS and businesses in Sligo are being reminded of the dangers of illegal burning of waste and its impact on air quality and people’s health over the Halloween break.
A good quality environment is vital to our health and well-being and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging people to dispose of waste properly.
Uncontrolled burning of waste pollutes air and is illegal.
The EPA has released a short animation on YouTube illustrating the dangers of illegal burning of waste and its impact on people’s health. EPA Scientific Officer Martin Doyle said:“Burning household waste, either in domestic fires or in the open, can release highly toxic substances into the air. These substances include dioxins and they can be inhaled by children and adults nearby.
“Air pollution can seriously damage people’s health, particularly those suffering from heart or respiratory illnesses. Halloween should not be used as an excuse to burn waste. We are asking people not to use bonfires to dispose of household or hazardous waste,” he said.
Some people may not be aware that waste disposal by uncontrolled burning (so-called backyard burning) is illegal. Backyard burning and unauthorised bonfires should be reported to your local authority.
Please contact Sligo County Council or phone the lo-call National Environmental Complaints Line: 1850 365 121 or use the See it? Say it! smart phone app.
The app can be used to report any pollution incident. People routinely use it to report backyard burning, flytipping of waste, water pollution incidents, odours and littering. Using the app people simply take a photograph of the pollution incident, input the GPS location coordinates, add a sentence or two and their contact details. The incident is then sent automatically to the relevant local authority for follow up and action.