New fire prevention bylaw comes into effect from August 1
A NEW Fire Prevention Bylaw, which limits the lighting of open-air fires in the urban district of Hutt City, comes into effect from August 1. It does not apply to rural areas of the city.
The bylaw aims to stop the burning of vegetation and other combustible materials that are a nuisance or will pollute the environment. In particular, it limits the use of backyard incinerators, which can be used up to July 1, 2009, if they don’t cause a smoke nuisance. After that date, they will be prohibited.
The bylaw does not include hangis, umus, barbecues and other outdoor cooking, as long as the fire is adequately supervised at all times.
Vegetation is defined as all plant material and debris, whether green or dead, standing, cut, sawn, fallen, windblown, broken, harvested, stubble or stumps.
Council Environmental Investigations Officer Alan Pope says residents have plenty of options apart from burning to dispose of garden waste.
“For small amounts of green waste you could start a compost bin, or for tree pruning, hire or buy a mulching machine to create mulch for your garden,” Alan says. “Larger amounts of vegetation and other material can be taken to the city’s landfills at Silverstream and Wainuiomata, or to the Seaview Recycle and Transfer Station.”
Tri-Firewood and Landscaping Supplies in Taita will also take green waste – though no flax, bamboo or phoenix palms.
You can see the leaflet here.
For further information, please contact Hutt City Council at 570-6666, email contact@huttcity.govt.nz, or visit www.huttcity.govt.nz