Open Burning

Open burning of Waste materials is one of the major problems contributing India’s Air Pollution headaches. Open burning might be the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about your community’s contribution towards the health of the air. While it is still practised in most of India’s towns and cities, open burning has its distinct disadvantages. The combustion process releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, other gases, and solid substances directly into the air for people to breathe. And, of course, disposal of materials is never as good for the environment as using them again in a different form. Natural debris can be chipped or composted into landscaping material. Open burning pollutes the air and can make it difficult for people with respiratory problems to breathe. When the air is stagnant, open burning can pose smoke and odour nuisances - and health risks - to nearby residents, particularly in densely populated areas. Open burning can also pose a safety risk when it is not adequately controlled.

There are no circumstances under which it is legal to burn grass, hay, leaves, stumps or tires. They simply do not burn as "cleanly" as those materials that may legally be burned. All of them produce acrid smoke that causes nuisance conditions and threatens people's health. When tires are burned, they produce noxious gases and petroleum residue, both of which can be harmful to people and the environment. In addition, the burning of brush, cane, and driftwood and forestry debris from commercial or industrial land clearing is prohibited.

In our campus, we have many small shops which regularly burn large amounts of garbage in open air regularly. They generate huge amounts of wastes which include plastic packets, waste paper, cartons, etc. which they tend to burn out in the open, spreading pollution and harming the microclimate. Thus we have tried to curb this practice and have stuck stickers and posters all over the campus and tried to spread awareness among other students to garner support and stop this nuisance. We have also spoken to these shop-owners and have tried to persuade them to stop burning out in the open and help check pollution.

We hope that you can also do the same in your campus and try to bring a change.