On the burning of vegetation

March 5, 2025

As a result of fires, our republic suffers enormous economic and environmental losses, and irreparable damage is inflicted on nature. Dry grass annually flares up throughout our country, continuing to cause colossal damage to both nature and people. Fires pose a huge threat to biological and landscape diversity.

Why you shouldn't burn plant residues. The answer to this question should be divided into several components.

For enterprises and organizations, a ban on burning non-fuel substances (mixtures of substances), materials, and waste outside special devices and in violation of environmental protection legislation, including waste management, is established by paragraph 5 of Article 31 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Environmental Protection of Atmospheric Air". If administrative responsibility is not provided for the specified violation of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Environmental Protection of Atmospheric Air", then for violation of the requirements of waste management legislation, administrative responsibility is provided for under part 3 of Article 16.44 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses in the form of a fine of up to 30 basic units, and for legal entities, up to 1000 basic units.

It should be noted that in accordance with part 3 of Article 20 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Plant World", lighting fires, burning plant residues in public areas of settlements, except for specially equipped places determined by decisions of local executive and administrative bodies, are not allowed, and in other territories they are allowed in compliance with environmental protection requirements and fire safety rules.

Article 16.41 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus provides for responsibility for lighting fires in prohibited places in the form of a fine of up to 12 basic units.

Bans on burning leaves and plant residues for citizens on their personal plots are not provided for by environmental legislation.

From the perspective of fire safety regulations, controlled bonfires for burning plant residues and leaves are permitted on household plots. This must be done on a cleared area free of dry grass, surrounded by a perimeter trench filled with moist soil, at least 25 cm wide. Burning waste is allowed in small portions during light winds and while observing the following distances: 10 m from buildings and structures, 20 m from forest areas, and 30 m from hay or straw storage sites.

It is important to remember that the area for burning plant residues must be chosen to prevent any possibility of fire. It must be equipped with a fire extinguisher with a minimum extinguishing agent mass of 2 kg, or a water container with a volume of at least 10 liters, as well as a spade. After burning leaves, combustible residues must be extinguished until smoldering completely ceases.

It is important to remember that by burning waste, we cause harm to nature and our health.

Tree leaves, while purifying the air, accumulate various pollutants, including heavy metals, which re-enter the atmosphere when leaves are burned.

When burning plant residues, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and packaging waste often end up in the bonfire, resulting in the contamination of atmospheric air with various toxic, including carcinogenic, substances.

The smoke generated during such burning is particularly dangerous for children, individuals with heart, vascular, and respiratory diseases. Sometimes, a seemingly harmless attempt to get rid of garbage leads to fires, property damage, and loss of life.

In order to preserve the quality of the environment, the well-being, and health of the population, we recommend using various methods for disposing of dry leaves and plant residues, and to burn them only when necessary, for example, when there is a threat of healthy plants being infected by the foliage of diseased trees.

Seasonal organic waste can be beneficial if composted. Moist leaves mixed with green grass improve soil structure and protect it from drying out. This is because the processing of organic waste imparts conditioning properties to the soil. As a result, humus retains moisture around plant roots and prevents freezing.

 

Chief Specialist of the Inspection A.V. Gapanyenok