- While Pennsylvania does not have a statewide ban on open burning, the state's Department of Environmental Protection does encourage citizens to find cleaner alternatives to burning waste and using wood-fired boilers. In addition to recommending that residents recycle waste, the state also recommends purchasing an EPA-approved wood-burning heater or pellet stove, since both of these solutions heat the home more effectively while producing fewer airborne toxins like carbon monoxide, dioxins, and particulate matter associated with smoke.
- Many townships also carefully regulate the burning of wood and waste, creating ordinances to provide guidelines to residents wishing to burn wood or trash. Be sure to check your township or county's website to learn what can and can't be burned in your area. In addition, there may be temporary burning bans in effect if the region is having an especially dry season, or if an area's air quality index is elevated.
- Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection recently created new regulations that specifically concern outdoor wood-burning boilers, which many state residents use as an alternative to oil-fueled boilers. These regulations define what type of outdoor boilers can be used, and require that the boilers remain 150 feet from the nearest property line. The laws also require that the stack (also known as the flue) extends a minimum of 10 feet above the ground.
- Pennsylvania has several guidelines on its Department of Environmental Protection website, as does the United States Environmental Protection Agency. If you do choose to burn wood, these guidelines can help you to ensure that you are burning as cleanly and efficiently as possible. The guidelines include using dry wood, since it produces fewer toxins, and starting fires with newspapers or dry kindling. In addition, the EPA maintains a list of recommended wood-burning appliances.
State Burn Laws
Municipal Laws
Outdoor Wood-Burning Boilers
Burning Responsibly
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