Is Burning Trash Legal In Arizona?

Garbage disposal is a huge problem in the modern day and age. We're going through more trash than ever before in human history, and to make matters worse, much of it can't be broken down in the environment.

As such, landfills are getting bigger, and we have nowhere to put the excess. There is one way to permanently get rid of garbage, but is it legal in Arizona?

Burning Garbage

You may think to yourself, "why don't we just burn it all?" At a glance, this seems to be an easy solution. Too much space is being taken up by garbage, so why not incinerate it and turn it into ash that harmlessly floats into the air?

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Much of the trash you'd want to burn contains plastics, paints, and rubbers, which, when burned, create a lot of smoke filled with toxic pollutants that can irreparably damage our environment.

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When Can You Burn Garbage?

For most everyone, burning garbage is illegal in Arizona, for the reasons listed above. There are, however, a few exceptions to the rule. You are allowed to burn garbage, as long as it is in a state approved waste burner. These are fire-resistant incinerators with a cover or screen, and a one-inch opening on the top.

While still not preferable, these are vastly better for the environment than just burning everything in a trash can, but the state still recommends to stay away from burning plastic, toxic, and hazardous materials for obvious reasons.

[Arizona Department of Environmental Quality]