Solid Waste Director: If you’re burning garbage, you’re making poison

The director of the Dubois County Solid Waste Management District is asking residents to refrain from burning trash.

According to Carla Striegel-Winner, residents throughout Dubois County unknowingly discharge deadly toxins and cancer-causing substances into the air, water, soil and ultimately, the food chain when they burn trash, furniture, treated wood and even paper.

“Dubois County residents want to do the right thing, but a lot of people still don’t realize that open burning of household waste really, truly is a major health issue. If you’re burning garbage, you’re making poison.” said Striegel-Winner.

Open burning releases more toxins into the air than an industrial incinerator because of the low burn temperatures and lack of pollution control devices. This means that one family of four burning household trash can create as much dioxin per day as a 200 ton a day municipal waste incinerator!

Even when burning paper, the dyes, coatings and pigments turn into acidic gases and dioxins when burned. Residents also need to realize that the burning of any glued, treated, stained or painted wood releases chemicals into the air.

Air pollution is not the only concern, as some of these toxins going into the air eventually land on the ground and are consumed by animals and fish, which are in turn consumed by people.

“These toxins can accumulate in our bodies, causing cancer and other health issues,” Striegel-Winner said in a press release.

Dubois County has inexpensive disposal options for all residents. This includes free household recycling, oil, oil filter and antifreeze recycling and trash disposal for $1 a tag/bag at 8 county drop sites. The Solid Waste District Process Center at 1103 S. 350 W., Jasper offers household chemical disposal, electronics recycling, fluorescent bulb recycling, tire recycling and a “large item” dumpster for nominal user fees.

For more information, residents can go to http://www.duboiscountyrecycles.org or call the SWMD office at 812-482-7865.