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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Memo dated August 15, 1994 from Fire Chief to Assistant City Manager AIL Mimi TO: Bob Kindred, Assistant City Manager FROM: Mike Childs, Fire Chief DATE: August 15, 1994 SUBJECT: Banning of Leaf Burning In regards to the banning of leaf burning only, the impact on our enforcement procedures probably won't change much in the first year. Not all people will be come aware of the new ordinance until it's been in affect for awhile. The fact remains that with what's being proposed, we will still allow the burning of yard waste, such as garden plot material, small twigs and branches, etc. We know that a portion of our community would prefer that we pass an ordinance that would totally ban all burning within the city. The fire Department feels that these folks will continue to turn in complaints and will not differentiate between illegal leaf burning and legal burning of other yard waste. Our complaint calls and the awkward neighborhood feuds that we find ourselves involved in will eventually decrease, but never be totally eliminated. In regards to a total ban on burning of all materials, the Fire Department feels this would not be in the best interest of the majority of the citizens or the Fire Department enforcement efforts. Since the April 1, 1993 change to our Open Burning policy it has been very helpful for us to be able to work with the public on such things as prairie burns, large brush piles associate with construction projects, ceremonial fires, etc. Generally in these cases, we are notified in advance and have the opportunity to inform the citizens of our safety concerns and any precautionary measures they may need to take. To date, this type of open burning has not caused us any problems nor have we received any complaints which required a response from the Fire Department. If you have any further questions regarding the impact of changing the leaf burning policies of the city I will be glad to visit with you. V" Staff Report Leaf Disposal Alternatives 8/94 As we move from summer to fall (it will soon be budget time!), we need to address the question of leaf burning. The dilemma relates to the potential for a burning ban and what people will do to get rid of their leaves if they can't burn them. If one assumes that a burning ban will be imposed, the question of how the persons who formerly burned their leaves will get rid of the leaves, needs to be addressed. The general options still remain the same. People currently use two methods of leaf disposal. One is to handle them on-site through (composting, burning, etc.) and the other is to place them out for collection and disposal by others. The problem of leaf disposal is exacerbated in areas of heavy tree growth because the amount of leaves that need to be handled is high. As a means of getting an idea of how many households set out large numbers of leaf bags for disposal, the Public Works Department completed a survey of the five waste haulers serving Ames. The results showed that less than 3% of the households set out more than 30 leaf bags in a season. Only three households were noted as setting out more than 60 leaf bags. These results are surprising based on casual conversations with people who report that they and each of their neighbors have "100 bags or more". It is probably important to note that the 100 bag reports were prior to the extra charges being levied for leaf pickup. The majority of the leaves set out for disposal come from single family households since multiple family developments will have their own maintenance people to haul the leaves away. Utilizing the total of roughly 7,000 single family households in the community and the 3% large leaf "producers", it can be projected that 210 households will be in the large volume category. It can be assumed that a portion of these 210 households now burn at least a portion of their leaves, while some will chop the leaves prior to disposal or composting. Burning of leaves is done for a number of reasons. These include volume reduction, which results in cost savings; tradition, because of our agricultural background; and enjoyment, some people just like the smell of leaves burning. If burning is banned, the possibility exists for some financial hardship for large volume leaf "producers". If trees on a property produce 50 bags of leaves for instance, the cost could total $62.50 for annual leaf disposal based on a cost of $1.25 per bag for collection and disposal. One current program operated by the City to help with these costs is the five free days for yard waste disposal each year. This allows citizens to dispose of their leaves free, except for the time involved with transporting and unloading the leaves at the yard waste site. In order to facilitate the concerns of citizens who do not have the ability to dispose of their leaves on the free days, the City could work with the Volunteer Center to ascertain their interest in coordinating people who are in need of help with those who may be willing to offer their services to help with transporting leaves. Another way to reduce the cost of disposal is to reduce the volume of leaves so that they may be composted in backyard areas or set out for disposal in much smaller volumes. Over the past few years leaf mulchers have been coming on the retail market. These mulchers advertise a volume reduction of 8 - 10 to 1. Thus a volume of 50 bags of unmulched leaves could be reduced to 5 to 7 bags of mulched leaves. The cost of the mulchers ranges from $150 for small ones to over $500 for larger, more sophisticated models. A very good mulcher can be purchased for $250. Based on 50 bags of leaves annually, the payback period would be about five years. A one-time program of offering $100 rebates to those people who have a large number of trees and who actually purchase a leaf mulcher would have a total cost of approximately $25,000. Bulk leaf collection is another means of subsidizing the leaf pickup for all users, not just the heavy volume areas. This process would involve having the property owners place the loose leaves in the street and right-of-way area where they would be mechanically collected and then disposed of properly. This program would be similar to one accomplished by City crews several years ago. Bulk collection of the leaves involves extensive coordination and scheduling, which is problematical with weather problems, equipment malfunction, and guessing when leaves will fall. In addition, the leaves in the street area create fire hazards and are liability concerns. Last year two small children were killed when struck by a car while playing in the leaves in Cedar Falls. Existing City staff can not accomplish this work due to other priority activities, so contracting would be needed. It is estimated that if only heavy tree areas are collected, a bulk leaf pickup contract would total $35,000 annually. Disposal costs would need to be added to the annual collection costs, as would the cost to do the entire City. The concepts noted above were developed to review the leaf disposal alternatives. Other ideas may be pursued if appropriate. Any final decision would need to be coordinated if a leaf burning ban is implemented. Leaf Disposal - 2 - ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY REPEALING SUBSECTIONS 8.113(2)(a) , (b) & (c) AND RE-ENACTING THE SAME REVISED FOR THE PURPOSE OF BAN- NING THE OPEN BURNING OF LEAVES; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; ESTABLISHING A PENALTY AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa: Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa is hereby amend- ed by repealing Subsections 8.113(2)(a), (b) and (c) and re-enacting the same revised to read as follows: 11(2) Types of Open Burning on Private or Public Property. (a) Yard Waste. Yard waste, except leaves, may be burned on private property on which there is located a dwelling of two family units or less, provided that the yard waste originated on the premises by growing or falling on the property. Trees or branches which are to be burned must be cut into pieces not larger than 4" diameter and 30" in length. (b) Landscape Waste. Landscape waste is yard waste and tree stumps produced in clearing, grubbing and construction oper- ations. Landscape waste which originated on the premises, except leaves not still clinging to branches, may be burned on site. No building materials, trade wastes, rubber tires, material left from demolition of any structure, landscape waste originating from a different location nor any other material may be mixed with the landscape waste when burned. Gasoline shall not be used to ignite landscape waste. Authorization from the Fire Chief or the Chief's designee is required prior to burning. (c) Open fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies are permitted so long as leaves are not burned in the fire." Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction, punishable as set out in Section 1.9, Ames Municipal Code. Section Three. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith shall be repealed to the extent of such conflict if any. Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Passed this day of 1994. Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor 2 THE HEALTH EFFECT OF OPEN BURNING OF LEAVES The burning of leaves contributes large amounts of particulate matter to air pollution. In a study from Illinois, the burning of red oak leaves was noted to emit 94 pounds of particulate, 135 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 33 pounds of hydrocarbon per ton of leaves burned. Eighty-five percent of the particulates were very small in size, less than 0 . 6 microns , and as a result were able to be inhaled into the deepest regions of the lungs . These areas of the lung do not have the mucociliary mechanism to clear this material, and this material as a result may be absorbed and cause various health effects. Some of the health effects of these particulates are going to be more obvious in patients who are more susceptible, ' such as Young Y g children less than ten years of age, older patients greater than sixty years of age, and in asthmatics, patients with heart disease, patients with bronchitis and emphysema. The hydrocarbons that are emitted are carcinogens or cancer-causing, especially in tobacco smokers . The carbon monoxide is absorbed into the blood stream and increases the carboxyhemoglobin which, as a result, decreases the amount of hemoglobin that carries oxygen, and this would be a problem for persons who already have a high carbon monoxide level such as smokers, those with cardiopulmonary problems , and in asthmatic child, -pregnant women, and infants . -2- In a study from the Iowa Health Data that was done in Des Moines , hospital admissions for respiratory distress showed a very positive correlation with air quality violations caused by open leaf burning in 1975 . Data obtained from the American Lung Association of Iowa shows 15 percent of the population is susceptible to dangerous levels of air pollution produced by open leaf burning. Carcinogens such as benzo-(a) pyrine by leaf burning can contribute to respiratory tract cancers and several of these carcinogens are released by open leaf burning. As mentioned earlier, a major source of carbon monoxide production in urbanized areas is leaf burning and presents an additional problem to the respiratory tract and for cardiovascular patients that has to be coped with. There is sufficient data to state that open leaf burning does contribute in sufficient quantity Jpollutants that can be injurious to the human respiratory tract and heart. When one looks at air pollution, one needs to think about the Population that is exposed, in this case those that are more sensitive such as young children, older patients, and those patients with cardiopulmonary problems , and also the amount that they are going to be exposed to which can depend on the atmospheric inversions and the times of the week when the burning is being done (usually weekends) . Contributing to the problem today is the fact that there is greater exposure to other air Pollution from automobiles, industrial pollution, cigarette smoke, and the fact that most of us live in urban areas . -3- If one wants to look at the economic impact of leaf burning which would include health care costs, several studies have been done that have shown that money can be saved by collecting these leaves instead of open leaf burning. The cost to the community when it affects the health of our children and our elders and those that are already fighting for air cannot be measured in dollars. What cost is one to place on asthmatics who can 't breath on weekends when leaf burning is prevalent and end up in emergency rooms with possible hospitalizations and school missed. The great costs relating to health cannot be valued in monetary terms and these should receive the greatest consideration in the decision to ban open leaf burning. Edward G. Nassif, M.D. Allergy, Pediatric, Pulmonary EGN :csr 4/26/94