Waste burning

Burning of waste from gardens, agriculture, households and industry is still a challenge and can cause severe air pollution. The waste is burned because it is easier than to dispose it in a correct manner (public waste collection) or because no waste collection exists e.g. for agricultural or garden waste.

The waste is typically burned as a bonfire or used directly in heating appliances e.g. burning of painted wood in stoves or straw in strawfired boilers. Burning garden waste is forbidden in many larger Danish cities just as burning fields have been forbidden for decades in Denmark. However, the ban does not include agricultural waste burned as bonfires or straw burned in strawfired boilers.

Burning of waste is not included in the official Danish pollution statistics. Health damages and costs connected to this pollution therefore have to be added to the damages and costs from wood burning in this publication. Likewise, burning of waste (including garden and agricultural waste) can cause significant soil pollution containing tar substances and heavy metals.

Straw-fired boilers are in reality agricultural waste burning. Burning of agricultural waste can be seen over long distances. Burning of wet garden waste as a primitive bonfire. Burning of household waste in Norway.