Backyard burn season in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties begin this weekend. This year residents wishing to burn must complete an application for a permit. According to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, the permit is used to help regulate burns in the counties.
Richard Stedman, an air pollution control officer, spoke with Central Coast News about the necessity of these permits.
"Its a new service and its going to help the district to manage better manage the air quiality in our region," Stedman said.
The permits are free for those wishing to burn and people can apply online or over the phone with the MBUAPC district.
Stedman said the district will take an educational approach when informing people in the area about the permits and the restrictions.
People who burn their waste must be 100 feet from any structure and own more than a half of an acre of land, except in the areas that yard waste pickup is not available.
Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties are unique when it comes to burning laws, according to Stedman.
"Most counties, believe it or not, mostly the urban counties, burning is outlawed all together, there is no outdoor burning allowed."
Other counties, like San Luis Obispo county, require a $50 fee when applying for the purchase.
Stedman also said that even though it is burn season, he encourages people to recycle as much as they can because when people burn their waste, it is putting harmful pollutants back into the air we believe.
