THE Greater
Vancouver Regional
District (GVRD) and
its member municipali-
ties would like to
remind GVRD resi-

_ dents of the current
ban and restrictions,
in most municipalities,
on open burning of

N?1133500:

backyard waste.

There are also restrictions
under the | Waste
Management Act open burn-
ing smoke control regula-
tion, which is administered
by the GVRD air quality
department.

“The process of open
burning can be hazardous on
many levels,” said GVRD

chairman George —Puil.
“From the possibility of
inadvertently starting a fire,
if a reliable spark catcher is
net ia place to producing
toxic emissions, which raises
health concerns, open burn-
ing can have many negative
outconies.”

Open burning of vegeta-
tion waste on residential

nal Durning ban remal

properties aad on larger
tracts of land for clearing
purposes is a significant
source of emissions. The
GVRD's air quality manaze-
ment plan identifies inkalable
particulate and ground level
ozone as priority issues. The
burning of vegetation waste
often results in poor com-
bustion conditions, produc-

Sunday, November a 2000 — North Shore News ~- 45

ing significant quantities of
smoke that consists of inhal-
able particulate matter.

Open burning also pro-
duces high levels of hydro-
carbons that can cause irrita-
tion to the eyes, nose, throat
and lungs.

Most GVRD- member
municipalities do not alow
open burning. The munici-

ace

palities that do allow open
buraing have restrictions in
place and are being encour-
aged By the GVRD to ban
open burning completely.

GVRD | residents are
encouraged to consider using
alternatives to opening burn-
ing such as composting, dis-
posal and pick-up by munici-
palities.

Sears stores.
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Major Appliances are avaBable at
_ the folowing locations .

* Degsrtent Stores.
Bunaby

. a ee
"Guilford Town Contre (604) 584-4149
* Breton Mal (D4) 290-5511

Langley ”

"Wilowérock Mall (604) 533.4083

Richmand

- Richmond Suu Cone 6) 7-42

: Ritcniabopeciiies
current at time of advertising preparation:

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