Open burning is the uncontrolled burning of waste in open areas. Open burning releases pollutants that are harmful to health and the environment. It is never an appropriate solution for waste management and should be rapidly discontinued.

Design Considerations

Open burning has no design. Its main pitfalls are its severe health hazards and environmental damage, hence open burning should be avoided. Nonetheless, the severity of its impact on human health varies depending on the location of the open burning. If residential areas are not downwind of open burning, it is sufficiently distant or there is very limited exposure of people to the smoke, then the health threat to people may be less direct or severe.

Materials

Open burning of waste is typically initiated by a person, a starter fire and dry combustible waste. Once the fire is started the waste itself is the fuel and burning can spread and continue until the material is consumed or extinguished by water/rain or a lack of oxygen. Spontaneous burning can also occur if several favourable conditions align including heat accumulation and the presence of easily combustible material and gas, especially in larger uncontrolled piles of waste such as in open dumping sites U.10.

Applicability

Open burning of waste is never an appropriate solution. Nonetheless, it might be used as a temporary measure in the early stages of an emergency response. However, humanitarian and development actors should always quickly plan for safer disposal options such as controlled waste pits U.8 and controlled disposal sites/landfills U.9. If open burning takes place, it must be very short term and temporary and phased out as quickly as possible. Open burning is an indicator of poor and unsafe waste management.

Operation and Maintenance

There is no operation and maintenance for open burning.

Health and Safety

The open burning of waste has health implications, due to the release of toxic pollutants. These pollutants may include particulate matter which can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing respiratory problems such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis and reduced lung function. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formed during the incomplete combustion of organic materials, are carcinogenic. Dioxins and furans can be released, especially when burning plastics; they pose a significant risk by causing reproductive and developmental problems, damaging the immune system and increasing cancer risk. These persistent chemicals can settle on the soil, contaminating fields and food sources. Burning materials that contain metals like copper, iron, chromium and aluminium can catalyse the formation of persistent organic pollutants, especially dioxins and furans. Uncontrolled burning of household waste causes an extra 270,000 premature deaths every year around the world. Even if the burning takes place away from the population, reducing the health hazards, there are climate impacts. The open burning of waste leads to emissions of black carbon, estimated to have a 20-year Global Warming Potential of 4,470 compared to one unit of CO₂. Globally, the release of methane and black carbon (in smoke) from uncontrolled dumpsites is accelerating climate change X.8.

Costs

Open burning is perceived as a simple, low-cost approach because it does not rely on equipment or infrastructure. However, costs can quickly escalate if fires spread. The cost is also high when indirect external costs are considered, such as the social impact, ill health, climate change, damage to livestock and wildlife and loss of business and tourism. The overall economic cost to society from improper waste management practices, such as open dumping U.10, open burning and inadequate resource recovery, is estimated to be five to ten times higher than the financial cost of proper waste management.

Social Considerations

Emissions from open burning significantly impact vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly and people with health problems. The intentional burning of waste to recover materials of value may be a livelihood strategy but its risks and health impacts outweigh the short-term economic benefits. Open burning is a common practice in low-income and marginalised communities due to poor waste management services and infrastructure, raising concerns about environmental justice. Although banned and illegal in many countries, it is often tolerated by service providers as it ’removes’ waste; enforcing a waste-burning ban is therefore difficult. Sometimes waste is even burned as fuel in stoves which has a direct health impact, especially if plastics are included. Many are unaware of the associated severe health and environmental risks, highlighting the need for education and greater awareness. Open burning at disposal sites disproportionately affects vulnerable groups in the vicinity who may work with the waste, live close by or lack the means to oppose it. Addressing these issues requires better waste management and community education.