Following the successful banning of incinerators in other states, Tasmania’s Glenorchy City Council is banning backyard burning in Hobart’s western suburbs. Council has introduced a by-law in response to increasing environmental awareness and complaints about pollution and health problems caused by incinerators.
The ban follows a similar move by Hobart City Council, creating a uniform approach to this regional problem. The Glenorchy by-law was gazetted on 4 June and will be enforced from 1 September.
Exemptions have been made for farming and land clearing operations, the formation of fire breaks and camp fires. Anyone else found using an incinerator or burning waste on the ground will be fined $200 on the spot. Council is also running an education campaign encouraging residents to recycle, mulch or compost their waste instead of putting a match to it.
