Whereas exposure to particulate matter in smoke can cause chronic and acute impacts to cardiovascular and respiratory systems; And whereas open burning is a significant source of particulate matter emissions in BC, and is commonly used by the agriculture industry as a convenient and affordable way to dispose of unwanted vegetative debris; And whereas the BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation requires people to ensure that every reasonable alternative for reducing, reusing or recycling vegetative debris is used in order to minimize the amount of the vegetative debris to be open burned: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province develop and fund a program for the agriculture sector to support and incentivize the implementation of alternatives to the burning of agricultural vegetative debris andor expand existing agricultural innovation funds to support such alternatives.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Ministry of Agriculture and Food The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation OBSCR sets out rules for open burning of vegetative debris that aim to minimize the impact of pollution from open burning. While the OBSCR covers burning of vegetative debris, certain agricultural activities such as the burning of leaves, foliage, weeds, crops and stubble are not regulated by the OBSCR, nor by other provincial environmental legislation. Neither the OBSCR, nor other environmental legislation require burning. In fact, agricultural producers are free to pursue alternative uses for agricultural debris. For instance, woody debris may be salvaged for firewood, chipped to produce mulch or animal bedding for on farm use or for sale, or used to produce compost following the rules of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is working with several local governments through air quality roundtables on initiatives that involve improving local air quality by providing alternatives to burning for residents. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is actively working with producers to reduce burning of agricultural vegetative debris and promote alternative management practices. Pruning crops, removing diseased plant materials and clearing land for crop production are all part of normal farming practices. The Environmental Farm Plan Program and associated Beneficial Management Plan EFPBMP program are two key programs that provide education and incentives to improve disposal practices for agricultural wastes and wood residues. The BMP program provides on-farm cost-share incentives for farmers to improve debris management and adopt alternatives to burning, such as on-farm composting, mulching mowers, chippers, and forced air assistance burners. In addition to the EFPBMP program, the Ministry also supports the agricultural sector through education and guidance materials. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is currently developing improved guidance materials that will better inform farmers on open burning rules and regulations and alternatives that are available in their areas of the province. It is expected that the guidance materials will be available in Fall 2022.