The open burning ban has been in place during the summer ozone season in Georgia since 2005.
In addition to Hall, affected counties included each year are Gwinnett, Banks, Barrow, Jackson, Dawson, Forsyth and Lumpkin.
The ban prohibits anyone from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the summer ozone season, which runs from May 1-Sept. 30. This is in addition to the rule that prohibits the burning of household garbage. Burning household garbage is never allowed anywhere in Georgia. Recreational activities such as campfires and grilling are exempt from the open burning ban.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) says during the summer months, the ozone in the air we breathe can reach unhealthy levels. Ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react in the presence of sunlight. A major source of these pollutants is the burning of fuels and other combustible materials. EPD has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone.