Outdoor Burning
Burning restrictions in Invercargill and Gore
If you live within the Invercargill or Gore airsheds, you can only burn outdoors between 1 September and 30 April. Leisure activities such as barbecues, braziers, hangi and fireworks are exempt from this rule.
The Southland Regional Air Plan contains some rules about what you can and can’t burn in Southland, and when you can burn it.
What can I burn?
You can only burn material listed as permitted in the Regional Air Plan:
- dry vegetation, untreated wood, paper and cardboard.
What can’t I burn?
You can’t burn any of the following:
- tyres, used oil and metal products
- chemically treated timber such as fence posts and some building materials
- painted and varnished timber
- synthetics including plastic, rubber, baleage wrap and agrichemical containers.
Download a full list of prohibited fuels from the Breathe Easy website – www.BreatheEasySouthland.co.nz
Special rules for industrial sites
If your property is an industrial site, any burning is prohibited unless you have a consent. You can apply to Environment Southland for a consent.
Other disposal options
There are alternative options for disposing of household and farm waste materials. These include using a kerbside waste collector, taking waste to local transfer station, hiring a mini skip, using a commercial collection company, recycling, reusing, composting vegetation, and mulching hedge cuttings. Burying waste is not recommended.
For information on baleage wrap and farm waste disposal go to www.es.govt.nz.To find out how to dispose of other waste materials visit the Orange Pages recycling directory at: www.wastenet.org.nz
Waste disposal operators
Southland DisAbility Enterprises - To arrange free drop off of plastic containers at 28 Ettrick Street, Invercargill, phone 03 214 6188 .
Plasback - To arrange baleage wrap and plastics collection, phone Ken Murch on 027 208 2596.
Agrecovery - To arrange plastics and drum collection, phone 0800 247 326 or register free online at www.agrecovery.co.nz
Southland Waste Transfer Stations & Recycling Centres - See Wastenet Southland’s website for details of the waste transfer stations and recycling centres in Southland – www.wastenet.org.nz
If your only option is to burn, you are responsible for any smoke nuisance you cause. Consider the following best practice tips:
Small piles minimise smoke
Make sure all burning material is dry, well aerated and loosely stacked in small piles so it burns hot and without excessive smoke. Burning green or damp hedge cuttings and vegetation causes excess smoke.
Keep your distance
Burn downwind and as far away from property boundaries, other houses, roads, hedges, etc as possible.
Check weather conditions
Check the direction the smoke will blow. Will it affect neighbours? Burn in a light breeze and avoid burning in an inversion layer.
Notify the neighbours
Talk to them about a convenient time to burn. This is a much better option than dealing with an unhappy neighbour.
Check for fire bans and restrictions
Supervise the fire
At all times and be prepared to put it out if it creates a nuisance. Uncontrolled fires must be reported to Fire and Emergency New Zealand – call 111.
Contact us If you have any questions about outdoor burning or nuisance from smoke caused through burning, contact Environment Southland on 0800 76 88 45.
