Is it legal to burn construction and demolition waste?
No. It is illegal to burn construction and demolition materials in Wisconsin, with few exceptions. State laws prohibit the burning of painted, treated and other unclean wood, asphalt, plastics of any kind, oily substances, rubber products, wet rubbish and other materials. If a business, industry, or municipality wishes to burn clean wood waste, or brush, they must first obtain approval and a license from the Department’s Waste Management Program to operate as a wood burning facility. It is also illegal to burn unwanted buildings in Wisconsin. The only exception is for a fire department practice burn of a standing building that has received prior approval from the Department’s Air Management Program. The building must be inspected for asbestos by a certified inspector. All asbestos-containing materials must be removed prior to burning. Individual homeowners may burn small quantities of clean wood and paper. However, recycling ordinances statewide prohibit the burning of cardboard, newsp
