Air Defenders Glossary

Open Burning Object Definitions
	OK to burn?
Object	Never	Sometimes	Disposal Method	Comments	Alternatives
Rubber Tires	X		Preferred: Recycle	Burning rubber tires produces very black oily smoke. This smoke contains cancer causing chemicals, acids, carbon monoxide, zinc, and lead. Lead can cause neurological problems in children.	Tossing tires into a landfill is against the law! Recycling tires is required. Check with the local trash collection for places you can take old tires.
Plastic Milk Container	X		Preferred: Recycle	Plastics can contain chlorine and metals such as cadmium and chromium which form cancer causing materials when burned. Also, it is not legal to burn wet material because it smolders at low temperatures and causes many hazardous pollutants to form.	Recycling of #1 & #2 plastics is required. Type #3 through #7 plastic containers should be recycled if available in your area.
Plastic Diaper	X		Preferred: Landfill	Plastics can contain chlorine and metals such as cadmium and chromium which form cancer causing materials when burned. Also, it is not legal to burn wet material because it smolders at low temperatures which causes many hazardous pollutants to form.	Disposable diapers must be disposed of at a landfill. As an alternative, you can use cloth diapers.
Electrical Wires	X		Preferred: Recycle Acceptable: Landfill	Electrical wires are wrapped with plastic, which should not be burned. Burning the wire can release lead.	Take off the plastic on the wire and dispose of the plastic in a landfill. You can recycle the metal.
Roofing Shingle	X		Preferred: Landfill	Burning asphalt will produce a very black oily smoke. The smoke contains cancer causing chemicals and carbon monoxide.	The only option is to dispose of the shingle in a landfill.
Aerosol can	X		Preferred: Landfill Acceptable: Recycle	Burning aerosol cans can be dangerous! When they are heated in the fire the pressure inside the can increases until the can explodes! Pieces of sharp metal can shoot out from the fire. In addition, the chemicals in the aerosol can produce toxic chemicals when burned.	Aerosol cans should be landfilled. You may be able to recycle them as metal, check with your local trash collection.
Styrofoam Packaging	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Recycle and Landfill	When styrofoam is burned, chemicals such as benzene, dioxins and furans are formed. These chemicals are not healthy to breathe in.	It is best to not even use styrofoam packaging. Try using alternative materials. If there is no option, save these materials and reuse them, or recycle if available in your area. Sending styrofoam to a landfill is allowed, but not the best option.
Oil filters	X		Preferred: Recycle Acceptable: Landfill	Oil filters have the same chemicals in them as used oil. Some metals released, for example cadmium and chromium, are carcinogens.	Drain oil for recycling. Also drained filters should be recycled if available in your area or landfilled.
Batteries	X		Preferred: Recycle	Batteries can contain acids, zinc, and cadmium. When burned many hazardous air pollutants can be released such as lead and dioxin.	Use rechargeable batteries. Recycle non-rechargeable batteries.
Glossy Magazine	X		Preferred: Recycle	Paper that is coated to make it glossy should not be burned. The inks used on glossy paper contain metals. Therefore, when burned this type of paper can release hazardous air pollutants.	Recycle.
Furniture/ musical instruments	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Landfill	Treated lumber contains arsenic, which is a poison. Other types of treated wood like plywood contain glues, stains, or paints that contain chemicals. When burned these toxic chemicals are released into the air.	Reuse household furniture such as sofas, chairs and tables and pass on musical instruments to a friend. You may also dispose of these materials at a landfill.
Treated Wood	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Landfill	Treated lumber contains arsenic, which is a poison. Other types of treated wood like plywood contain glues, stains, or paints that contain chemicals. When burned these toxic chemicals are released into the air.	Use larger pieces of wood to make birdhouses, or other small projects. You may also dispose of these materials at a landfill.
Clean Wood		X	Preferred: Reuse	The smoke from burning logs and firewood contains small-sized particulate matter and carbon monoxide. The small particulate matter can penetrate our respiratory defenses and travel deep into our lungs. This can be very dangerous to young children, elderly people, and people with asthma or other lung diseases. Open burning is discouraged.	Use clean wood in a fireplace or wood furnace, or reuse it.
Newspaper		X	Preferred: Recycle	The smoke from burning newspaper contains particulate matter and carbon monoxide. The small particulate can penetrate our respiratory defenses and travel deep into the regions of our lungs. This can be very dangerous to young children, elderly people, and people with asthma or other lung diseases. Open burning is discouraged.	Recycle.
White Notebook paper		X	Preferred: Recycle	Paper is white because it is bleached when it is made. Chlorine is used to make white paper. The chlorine in the paper may cause dioxin to form.	Recycle.
Dry Leaves		X	Preferred: Composting	Burning leaves releases respiratory irritants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. Particulate matter can travel through our respiratory system and get into deep regions of the lungs causing coughing, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even asthma attacks. Open burning of leaves is discouraged due to fire hazards and the health risks.	Landfill disposal of dry leaves is prohibited. Composting is the preferred option.
Wet Material (produce, trees, plants)	X		Preferred: Composting Acceptable: Landfill	It is not legal to burn wet material! Wet materials do not burn well. They smolder at low temperatures and form hazardous chemicals.	Try composting vegetable food wastes. Vermicomposting is a fun option! Anything that can not be composted should be disposed of in a landfill.
Electronics & Plastics (phone, floppy disc, CD, tape, boombox, VHS tape, computer, coffee maker, speaker)	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Landfill	When burning plastic material dioxins and furans can form. These chemicals are carcinogens.	Try to reuse these materials. If they cannot be reused, send them to the landfill.
Books	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Landfill	Depending on the type of paper and type of cover that the book has, when burned, books can release hazardous air pollutants. Paper that is white has been bleached with chlorine. The chlorine in the paper can cause dioxin to form.	Donate old books to libraries, businesses, or organizations that can use them. If the books can no longer be read, landfill them.
Clothing / Teddy Bear	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Landfill	In general when these materials are burned at low temperatures benzene, formaldehyde, and other hazardous compounds are emitted.	Any clothing in good shape can be given to businesses or organizations that can use them. Clothing in poor shape can be used for rags or landfilled. Pass on your stuffed toys to a friend.
Shoes	X		Preferred: Reuse Acceptable: Landfill	Different chemicals are released depending on what type of shoe that is burned. Leather shoes release different chemicals then rubber shoes. Burning rubber produces very black oily smoke. This smoke contains cancer causing chemicals, acids, carbon monoxide, zinc, and lead.	Shoes in good shape can be given to siblings or organizations that can use them. Shoes in poor shape should be landfilled.
Empty paint can, oil can, gas can	X		Preferred: Landfill	The metal can will not burn; however, any leftover paint, oil, or gas will. Left over oil or gas will produce black oily smoke which contains small particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems.	Landfill empty cans.