Among the options available for disposing of garden waste, burning is certainly the worst. However, some garden owners may see no other way out than to burn green waste and leaves. But this puts him in a legally difficult situation. In principle, burning is forbidden. However, there are exceptions, but they differ from municipality to municipality.
Legal situation
Open fires in the garden for burning solid or liquid substances in the garden are generally not permitted throughout Germany. So you can't just burn green waste or leaves in the fall - regardless of how much there is or how big your garden is. The reasons for this are diverse. Most important:
- Stress on the environment due to the release of carbon dioxide
- Annoyance of neighbors due to exhaust fumes and smoke
- Danger of fire due to flying sparks
However, some federal states have created so-called exceptions. They allow garden waste to be burned at specific times and under very specific conditions. Unfortunately, these regulations are not uniform. They differ considerably from state to state. In addition, municipalities also play a role. You can, but do not have to, adopt these regulations. It may well be that burning is prohibited in a municipality, even though it would be possible under state law.
Note:
Anyone who does not comply with the ban and is caught burning garden waste will face a fine. If a fire occurs, the fire insurance company may also refuse to pay the damage.
Situation on site
It may be that as a garden owner you see no other way out than to burn your garden waste. Before you do this, however, you should find out exactly whether there is an exception to this - directly on site. Relying on state regulations makes little sense. The municipality or city in which you have your garden is always responsible. It decides whether, when and under what circumstances burning is permitted. As a rule, this is set out in a statute issued by the municipality or city council. Before you start lighting a fire in your garden, you should definitely ask your local or city administration whether this is possible. The contact persons can differ from municipality to municipality. However, a good place to start is usually the public order office.
Tip:
You should always ask when exactly and under what specific conditions burning is permitted in the garden. There is often written information that you can pick up at the town hall or have sent to you.
Rules
If burning garden waste is allowed in a municipality, you still can't just do whatever you want. Rather, you have to adhere to the specific regulations that the municipality has issued. In addition, the applicable fire protection regulations must always be adhered to. The following rules have proven effective for burning garden waste and are included in most statutes in one form or another:
- burn only at permitted times (usually in autumn)
- only at permitted times
- always use a fire basket or a barrel for burning
- observe the prescribed minimum distances from buildings and forest areas
- pay attention to the wind direction, neighbors must not be bothered by smoke
- only burn garden waste that is permitted
- do not burn other objects
- Never leave fire unattended
- Extinguish the fire well after burning
- dispose of remaining ashes
Unfortunately, more precise information is not possible, precisely because the regulations often differ greatly. As a rule, burning remains strictly prohibited on Sundays, public holidays and during the night. Burning branches is often permitted, but not leaves or grass clippings. Under no circumstances may other types of waste be burned.
Alternatives
Garden waste is actually something incredibly valuable. They're actually far too good to simply burn. It makes much more sense to return them to nature's natural cycle, i.e. to compost them. This is not only good for the environment, but also provides a very high-quality fertilizer that the plants in the garden will benefit from in the coming year. Leaves or grass clippings are also perfect for covering plants during the winter months to better protect them from frost.
Tip:
The autumn leaves can easily be left in the garden. It will inevitably rot and will then provide safe shelter for many animals such as hedgehogs.
If the amount of garden waste is too large to be stored in your own compost, many communities have the option of disposing of the material free of charge at a green waste collection point. You can find out whether and where such a collection point is available from the municipal or city administration.
