Residential "backyard" or outdoor burning is a form of open burning, which is defined as any burning outdoors that does not pass through a stack, duct, or chimney. Residential outdoor burning includes fires in burn barrels.

Residential outdoor burning is permissible in some areas of Idaho under specified conditions. Before burning, DEQ advises residents to:

It is illegal to burn garbage and most human-made substances, including plastics, hazardous wastes, paints or painted materials, tires, and trade wastes (produced by a business), which emit hazardous pollutants into the air when they are burned. Specifically, the Rules for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho (pdf on Department of Administration Web site) prohibit burning the following substances (certain exemptions may apply):

• Garbage (Garbage is defined in the Rules for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho as "any waste consisting of putrescible animal and vegetable materials resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food including, but not limited to, wastes materials from households, markets, storage facilities, handling and sale of produce and other food products.")

• Dead animals, animal parts, or animal feces
• Motor vehicle parts or any materials resulting from a salvage operation
• Tires or other rubber materials or products
• Plastics
• Asphalt or composition roofing or any other asphaltic material or product
• Tar, tar paper, waste or heavy petroleum products, or paints
• Lumber or timbers treated with preservatives
• Trade (business-generated) waste
• Insulated wire
• Pathogenic wastes
• Hazardous wastes (Hazardous waste is defined in the Rules for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho as "any waste or combination of wastes of a solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous form which, because of its quantity, concentration or characteristics (physical, chemical or biological) may: (a) Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in deaths or an increase in serious, irreversible or incapacitating reversible illnesses; or (b) Pose a substantial threat to human health or to the environment if improperly treated, stored, disposed of, or managed.")

As a result of a January 2007 court ruling, burning of crop residue on fields where crops are grown is no longer considered an allowable form of open burning on lands in the state outside of Indian reservations.

The Rules for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho (pdf on Department of Administration Web site) allow the use of open outdoor fires under certain conditions and for certain purposes. Unless a burn ban is in effect and/or other restrictions apply, residents may burn:

• Solid waste (rubbish, tree leaves, yard trimmings, gardening waste, etc.) if no scheduled house-to-house solid waste collection service is available and the burning is conducted on the property where the waste was generated
• Tree leaves, yard trimmings, or gardening waste if allowed by local ordinance or rule and conducted on the property where the waste was generated
• Fires for the preparation of food or recreational purposes, such as campfires and barbecues
• Ceremonial fires
• Small fires set for handwarming purposes
• Weed control along fence lines, canal banks, and ditch banks

Mulch or compost: Add yard trimmings and other vegetation to your compost bin to improve soil quality.

Reduce: Avoid purchasing disposable items. Buy products in bulk or economy sizes instead of in individually wrapped or in single serving sizes. Buy products that can be recharged, reused, or refilled.

Reuse: Donate unwanted clothing, furniture and toys to friends, relatives or charities. Give unwanted magazines and books to hospitals or nursing homes. Mend and repair rather than discard or replace.

Dispose: Have your household waste picked up by a licensed waste removal company or take it to a licensed disposal facility rather than burning it.