A spate of potentially toxic fires this year, has the Otago Regional Council urging people to be more thoughtful about what they burn.

Mattresses, plastic bottles, tyres, chemicals and waste oil are just some of the items being burnt outdoors in Otago, ORC compliance manager Tami Sargeant said.

They can’t be burnt safely due to the potential to discharge “extremely harmful” toxins into the environment.

 “It’s important to think about what you’re burning; you’ll breathe it in and so will your family and your neighbours,” Tami said. 

The ideal would be to find a way to recycle or re-use the items, or otherwise dispose of them appropriately at landfill..

People conducting backyard burning or having burn-offs, need to consider what effect their actions are having on the wider community and the environment, she said. 

“You can still have fires, but what we are saying is, please be up to speed with our rules and understand what you can and can’t burn.”

ORC has a guide to rules around outdoor burning in Otago, aimed to help anyone navigate which rules apply in which part of Otago.

People can report burn-offs of concern on the ORC Pollution Hotline 0800 800 033.