THE CORPORATION OF THE
CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM

HEMORARDUM
TO: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE January 4, 1991
FROM: C.F. (Kip) Gaudry, P. Eng.
Deputy City Engineer

SUBJECT: OPEN SURHING

Recoamendation:

1. That the Committee recommend to Council that all open air burning
be banned permanently in the City of Port Coquitlam; and

2. That Bylaw No. 902 be amended accordingly.

Background & Comments:

The matter of banning open air burning in the City ef Port Coquitlam has come
before the Environmental Protection Committee several times in 1989 and 1990.
As a result of Committee's consideration of open air burning, recommendations
were forwarded to Council that supported the total ban on open air burning.
The records show that on April 17, 1989, Council considered Bylaw No. 2421
which would have revised Bylaw No. 902 to reflect a permanent ban on all open
air burning in Port Coquitlam. After considerable debate and reconsideration,
Council finally approved the amendments to Bylaw No. 902 on May 1, 1989 and
these amendments are now contained as sections 4, 5, and 6 of the current
Bylaw No. 902. Baaically, they allow land clearing to be burned between
October 15 and April 14; burning on residential properties for two weekends a
year in late March, early April and; burning of agricultural lands pretty well
anytime throughout the year with a permit; and a ban on the burning of any
special wastes as defined under the Waste Management Act. Bylaw No. 902 is
attached to this report.

In 1989 and 1990, several delegations and letters were received and dealt with
by the Environmental Protection Committee. It would appear thet there is a
lot of public support for banning the open air burning of products and items
that can be disposed of differently. For example, land clearing materials can
be chipped and either land filled or burnt in industrial incinerators. Yard
clearings and grass clippinge can be composted either in the resident's yard
or in a City sponsored compost pile.

Cont'd /2...