The counties

that will allow prescribed burning of forestland include butts, Heard,

Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Troup and Upson counties. Prescribed burning

is a fire set under controlled conditions to burn forest understory and

used as a forest management practice to establish favorable seedbeds,

remove competing underbrush, accelerate nutrient cycling, control tree

pests, enhance wildlife habitat and contribute ecological benefits. Prescribed

burning has a burning plan written by a certified prescribed burn professional.

What are the

alternatives? Yard trimmings can be used in composting, mulching, chipping,

or left for natural decomposition. Many municipal landfills and convenience

centers accept yard trimmings from residents and process them into compost

and mulch. Contact the local solid waste department for more information

or call 1-800-Cleanup or log onto www.1800cleanup.org . Or, contact

the Department of Community Affairs, Office of Environmental Management

at 404-679-4940.

For further

information about the EPD's Open Burning Ban, contact the Air Protection

Branch of the Environmental Protection Department at 404-363-7000 or the

Northwest Regional Office at 404-362-2671.

Questions about

available options for handling solid waste should be directed to the Land

Protection Branch at 404-362-2537. Additional information on burning can

be obtained from the local Georgia Forestry Commission office at 770-254-7218.