With open burning season in full swing, the Montana DEQ is reminding those who conduct burning that only plant material and clean, untreated wood can be burned. It is illegal to burn waste generated from residences such as tires, baling twine, plastic, treated or painted lumber, dead animals, or animal waste.
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Download NowIt is illegal to burn waste such as Styrofoam and other plastics; wastes generating noxious odors; wood and wood by-products that have been coated, painted, stained, treated, or contaminated by a foreign material; rubber materials; asphalt shingles; tar paper; insulated wire; oil or petroleum products; treated lumber, including plywood, hazardous wastes, chemicals, asbestos, or asbestos-containing materials; and paint.
Other types of open burning permits issued by DEQ include:
- Builders and contractors (trade waste): $100
- Landfill: Fee is collected from solid waste management license
- Firefighter training: $25
- Emergency open burning: $100
- Christmas tree waste: $100
- Commercial film production: $100
- Major open burning: Greater of $350 and fee calculated on previous year’s burning
Open burn season in most counties is from March 1 to August 31. Contact your county health department to determine if more county restrictions exist.
Failing to comply with open burning rules may result in enforcement actions.
INFO: Contact DEQ at 406-444-3490.