Stop open burning at housing sites – CH&PA warns contractors

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Monday issued a notice, warning contractors of consequences of open burning, particularly of vegetation in site preparations and of construction waste, at all Housing Ministry project sites. For those already engaged in such practices, the CH&PA ordered that “contractors must immediately cease and desist from all open burning and extinguish any existing fires.” The Authority explained that the burning of vegetation for land-clearing and site-preparation, discarded formwork and timber, construction debris and packaging materials, any other construction-related waste, is strictly prohibited under the Environmental Protection Act. “Breaches may result in fines, imprisonment and other applicable legal sanctions,” the CH&PA noted. It advised that all construction waste must be regularly collected, removed and disposed of in accordance with CH&PA’s Waste Management Plan (WMP) and the requirements of the respective Project Contract. “Any contractor found in breach of this directive will be subject to the applicable contractual penalties enforced by CH&PA,” the agency emphasised.

Fire Safety
Only recently, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) issued an advisory, warning against open burning, especially amid the he El Niño period. “With soaring temperatures and dried-out vegetation, a small spark can rapidly transform into unmanageable grass or structural fire,” the GFS had cautioned in a statement last month. As such, the GFS urged all citizens to refrain from burning garbage, dried leaves or yard waste. Farmers were also advised against open burning for land clearing and to seek alternatives such as composting or manual clearing to minimise wildfire risks. “Under El Niño conditions, sudden wind gusts can carry embers into dry grass or nearby buildings instantly,” the GFS had also cautioned. Additionally, businesses and farms near heavily vegetated areas were encouraged to establish effective firebreaks (clear strips of land with no vegetation) to protect properties from approaching bushfires.

Environment
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted that open burning is an environmentally poor waste management option. “Burning waste can result in the release of highly toxic pollutants into your home or environment and some people are at greater risk of being affected. Pollutants include particulate matter, nitric oxides, dioxins and many other dangerous chemicals. Some particulate emissions that are commonly found in smoke are small enough to enter the respiratory system. This means that you can simply breathe in dangerous fine particles. Contact with pollutants that can have immediate effects such as rashes, nausea and headaches, and long-term health effects such as asthma, emphysema and other respiratory illnesses, nervous system, kidney or liver damage and reproductive or developmental disorders,” the EPA explained on its website.
Additionally, it noted that dioxins can be produced in harmful quantities during burning. “Dioxins are a group of hundreds of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs). These chemicals are members of three closely related families, chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs), chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs) and certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). CDFs and CDDs are not usually created intentionally but as a result of human activities such as burning household garbage. Some types of dioxins may result from natural processes such as forest fires. According to the US EPA, Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. These compounds though not present in the materials before they are burnt, are produced and introduced into the environment. Pollutants are then released at the ground level where they can be readily inhaled, deposited on plants and released into waterways and can enter the food chain. More dioxins are produced in a burn barrel as compared to large incinerators because of low oxygen and lower temperature,” the EPA further explained. To dispose of waste by incineration requires an environmental permit. It is an offence under the Environmental Protection (Air Quality) regulations, to emit any air contaminant related to industry, commerce, agriculture or any institution, without approval from the EPA with penalties ranging from $75, 000 to $500,000 and to imprisonment for six months.