Map Provided By Washington State Department of Ecology

It is illegal to burn yard and garden waste because Deer Park city is in an Urban Growth Area (UGA). That begs the question, What are my alternatives to getting rid of my yard debris?

According to the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, yard and garden debris come from the property’s maintained and improved area, which means land immediately adjacent to a residence. It consists of leaves, grass clippings, needles, garden trimmings, and tree branches. 

Burning yard and garden debris release harmful smoke particles and chemicals that can damage the lungs. In addition, as the population increases in urban areas such as Deer Park, more people are impacted by smoke from burning. As a result, burning yard and garden debris was made illegal. 

The Washington State Legislature currently has law RCW 70A.15.5020 in place. This law prohibits yard, garden, and land clearing burning in UGAs. To see if you are within the borders of Deer Park’s UGA area, you can go here: DPGazette.com/rso60

If you live inside an urban growth area, you can only have a recreational or tumbleweed fire which includes: 

• Barbecues – Burning only briquettes, propane, or dry, seasoned firewood.
• Campfires – The fire must not be bigger than 3 feet x 3 feet x 2 feet. Burn only dry, seasoned firewood.
• ​Burning tumbleweed – A burn permit may be required in communities with more than 250,000 people. You will need to check with your local clean air agency.

The Washington State Department of Ecology suggests alternatives to burning options such as grasscycling, compost, chip, and curbside pickup through a waste company, landfills, and community of neighborhood cleanup days. 

For Deer Park, there is the twice-a-year Clean Green event held in spring and fall. This spring’s event will be Friday, May 6th, and Saturday, May 7th, from 8:00am – 4:30pm, at the City Maintenance Shop located at Crawford & Stevens. Only Deer Park residents can participate, and this service is first come, first served. Once all dumpsters are full, the event will be over. 

Accepted clean green items include:

• leaves
• grass
• plant trimmings
• pine needles and cones
• branches (under 3” in diameter x 6’ long)
• undecorated holiday trees (no flocking)

All items must be loose, not in plastic bags or plastic twine.

Not accepted clean green items include:

• plastic
• food
• animal waste
• pet litter
• sod
• dirt
• rock
• concrete
• glass
• metal
• paint residue
• fire retardant 
• lumber, stumps, or woody material over 3” x 6’

In addition, Deer Park residents can contact Waste Management, which offers an optional curbside subscription service for collecting residential yards or “clean green” debris pick-up. 

Waste Management contact information at:

• Phone: 509) 924-9400 
• Website: www.wmnorthwest.com 

For more information on outdoor and residential burning, go to: DPGazette.com/ikjan