The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds the public that Delaware’s Ozone Season and open burning ban take effect May 1 and continue through Sept. 30.

The statewide ban restricts most but not all outdoor burning in Delaware. During the ban, residents and visitors to the First State are allowed to conduct cooking fires, recreational campfires, and ceremonial bonfires. But even these actions can be limited, namely if an Air Quality Action Day is declared, or if the State Fire Marshall issues a more restrictive burn ban.

“The burning ban is critical for continuing to improve our air quality,” said Environmental Scientist Gerald Mood of the DNREC Division of Air Quality. “As summer temperatures rise, and as we get longer daylight hours, the conditions which allow for the formation of ground level ozone become more prevalent.”

He noted that smoke from burning materials contains many components, including particulate matter and chemicals that can react in the atmosphere to create ozone.

The annual burn ban includes agricultural and prescribed burns, as well as the burning of brush, branches and limbs from residential property. It is against the law in Delaware to burn leaves, grass, trash, garbage, or refuse such as tires, construction or demolition waste, paper, cardboard, plastic, furniture, fabric and mattresses. Complaints about illegal open burning should be reported to the toll-free DNREC Environmental Hotline at 800-662-8802.

During the burn ban and Ozone Season, Delawareans can rely on alternatives to burning their waste materials, such as:

• Using curbside waste pick-up or drop-off yard waste sites. More information about the disposal of yard waste can be found at de.gov/yardwaste.
• Chipping or shredding limbs and branches to convert them into useful mulch.
• Add yard waste to a compost pile to support a rich backyard garden. For more information, visit de.gov/composting.

More information about open burning can be found at de.gov/openburning.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Air Quality monitors and regulates all emissions to the air. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov 

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Lums Pond State Park./ DNREC photo

Public Reminded to be Vigilant During State’s ‘Ozone Season’

While the air quality has improved in Delaware, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control advises residents and visitors that the state is currently amidst the ozone season. They should continue to be vigilant about poor air quality and its impacts on their health and safety every day.

Wildfires in Quebec emitted particulate matter into the atmosphere making the air unhealthy — and at times hazardous — to breathe in Delaware, triggering DNREC last week to issue back-to-back Code Red Action Days. Today’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reading shows Delaware as yellow for particulate matter signifying air quality remains a moderate concern in the state.

While the looming haze and unhealthy air of last week may have dissipated for now, DNREC monitoring for air quality continues. Because with a change in meteorological conditions and dozens of wildfires still burning throughout Canada, the poor air quality for particulate matter could return, carried down the East Coast and into Delaware by prevailing winds.

“We are forcibly coming to terms with the many faces of climate change in Delaware,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The Code Red Action Days for particulate matter is a telltale indication of it. The Canadian wildfires dispersed particulate matter in the some of the highest amounts recorded. The smoke was carried by winds and affected air quality many hundreds of miles away. Which is why we as a country, and as global citizens, must continue to monitor, to prepare, to adapt, but also take action to address the impacts of climate change for protecting the health of people in Delaware and the planet.”

With warmer summer weather ahead and little rain in the forecast after almost a month of negligible precipitation, most of Delaware’s attention to air quality now reverts to the state’s ozone season (May 1-Sept. 30). “Bad ozone” can hover in the state and contribute to existing health conditions in sensitive groups, particularly children, older adults and people respiratory or cardiovascular problems.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mantra for ozone is “Good up high, bad nearby” – “nearby” meaning the ground-level ozone known as the troposphere. It’s “bad” ozone” to be aware of in Delaware, the country’s lowest-lying state, where the transportation sector currently is the largest single cause of air pollution.

This kind of ozone pollution is formed from a chemical reaction in the lower atmosphere on hot, still, sunny days. DNREC Division of Air Quality has found ozone pollution levels in Delaware – comprising the air pollutants that contribute most to ozone formation, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – comes from in-state sources and blow in from upwind cities and states. But ozone pollution doesn’t discriminate on where it ends up, and Delaware must always be on the alert for this unhealthy intrusion.

Today’s AQI for ozone shows levels in the 40s indicated by a green color code, meaning good air quality. DNREC advises that the public continue to check the state’s air quality report in the coming days, specifically by signing up to receive air quality alerts at de.gov/aqi and via accessing real-time data and interactive maps on current conditions at EPA’s airnow.gov.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Air Quality monitors and regulates all emissions to the air. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

During Delaware’s open burning ban from May 1 to Sept. 30 (also known as the Ozone Season) all outdoors burning is prohibited, with the exception of cooking fires, recreational campfires and ceremonial bonfires using firewood. /DNREC photo

State’s Open Burning Ban – Also Known as the Ozone Season – Begins May 1 and Runs Through Sept. 30

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds the public open burning of materials such as tree limbs, brush and branches is allowed until May 1 – when the state’s annual open burning ban takes effect and continues through Sept. 30. It is always against the law to burn leaves, grass, trash, garbage, and refuse including, tires, construction waste, paper, cardboard, plastic, furniture, fabric, and mattresses.

“While residential open burning of some yard waste is allowed until the end of April, there are restrictions on what can be burned, how much can be burned at a time, and at what time of day these materials can be burned,” said DNREC Division of Community Affairs Director Matt Ritter. “As we approach Earth Day, we also ask Delawareans to consider alternatives to burning for the continuing improvement of our state’s air quality.”

Residential open burning of cut or fallen limbs, dead branches, or shrubbery is allowed from Oct. 1 to April 30. A maximum of 27 cubic feet of yard waste may be burned at one time. However, more material may be added to the fire as it burns down. Burning must take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Burning trash or garbage, construction and other debris, old tires, grass clippings and leaves is illegal at all times in Delaware. Fires must be monitored until they are completely extinguished.

The annual open burning ban – also known as the Ozone Season – begins May 1 and extends through Sept 30. The ban restricts outdoor burning to allow only cooking fires, recreational campfires and ceremonial bonfires using firewood during this period. These fires are permitted year-round. Citations issued by Delaware Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit for all other open burning during this time are punishable by fines to include court costs upon conviction.

DNREC offers the following open burning guidelines:

• Pile materials you plan to burn as far as practical from all homes and other structures, including your neighbors.
• Be considerate of those around you in choosing when and where to burn.
• Keep a garden hose or full water buckets ready in case you need to reduce or put out the fire.

Or, consider alternatives to burning, such as:

• Use curbside or drop-off yard waste sites. Further information may be found at de.gov/yardwaste.
• Chip or shred limbs and branches to convert them into useful mulch.
• Add yard waste to a compost pile to support a rich backyard garden. More information is available at de.gov/composting.

More information about open burning can be found at de.gov/openburning.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Air Quality monitors and regulates all emissions to the air. The DNREC Division of Community Affairs includes the Delaware Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit, which enforces the state’s environmental laws and regulations. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov ; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Open Burning Ban – Also Known As Ozone Season – Runs May 1-Sept. 30

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds residents that open burning of materials such as tree limbs, brush and branches is allowed until May 1 – when the state’s annual open burning ban takes effect through Sept. 30. But DNREC further reminds the public that it is against the law at all times to burn materials considered toxic or hazardous.

“We want to reinforce the environmental message that while residential open burning is allowed until the end of April, there are constraints on what can be burned, how much can be burned at a time, and at what time of day these materials can be burned,” said DNREC Division of Community Affairs Director Patrick Emory.

Residential open burning is allowed from Oct. 1 to April 30 for up to 27 cubic feet of cut or fallen limbs, dead branches, or shrubbery from your residence. Only up to this amount of yard waste may be burned at one time, and must be burned between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Burning trash or garbage, construction and other debris, old tires, grass clippings and leaves is illegal at all times in Delaware.

The annual open burning ban – May 1 through Sept. 30 and also known as the Ozone Season – prohibits all outdoors burning, with the exception of cooking fires, recreational campfires and ceremonial bonfires using firewood. These fires are permitted year-round. Citations issued by DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit for all other open burning during this time are punishable by fines of $500 to $1,500, plus court costs.

DNREC also offers the following open burning tips:

• Pile materials you plan to burn as far as practical from all homes and other structures, including your neighbors’.
• Be considerate of those around you in choosing when and where to burn.
• Keep a garden hose or full water buckets ready in case you need to reduce or put out the fire.
• Monitor your fire until it is completely extinguished.
• Consider using one of Delaware’s yard waste sites as an alternative to residential open burning. Further information may be found at: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/waste-hazardous/yard-waste/drop-off-sites/

More information can be found on the DNREC website.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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