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Wildfires

Here are steps you can take to protect your health and the environment in the burn area of a wildfire.

If you are affected by a wildfire, call the TCEQ regional office that serves your county.

On this page:

Managing Waste
Monitoring Air Quality

Managing Waste

Follow these guidelines to dispose of wildfire wastes properly:

Think recycling first!
If it isn't recyclable, find an appropriate landfill.
Follow our guidelines for disposing of these wastes typically produced by wildfires:

Debris
Carcasses

If you have questions, contact the TCEQ regional office that serves your county. Also, be sure to check with local authorities for their guidance.

Think Recycling First!

Although most materials are not recyclable if damaged by fire, much of the metal, brick, and other debris might be recyclable.

Before you haul anything to a recycling center, call to find out:

What materials they will accept
Whether they will accept materials damaged by fire
Whether they charge a fee for recycling (This depends on the material and its condition. If the material is valuable enough, they might pay you for it.)

Contact local authorities for more information or search the Web for "recycling," your town's name, and "Texas."

Find an Appropriate Landfill

Many wastes can and should be taken to the landfill. Use the guidance below and these resources to find an appropriate landfill near you:

Active municipal solid waste landfills —A list by county.
Municipal Solid Waste Facilities Viewer —A map viewer for locating MSW facilities.

Disposing of Typical Wastes from Wildfires

Wildfires typically produce a great deal of debris and, sadly, carcasses.

Follow these guidelines for disposing of these wastes properly.

Cleaning up Debris

Remember, some of the debris produced by a wildfire could be recyclable. Follow these guidelines to separate debris according to type and dispose of it properly:

Managing Debris from Texas Wildfires
Request for Approval of Temporary Debris Management Site —This form is used by local authorities to ask for permission to set up debris-collection stations.

See lists of landfills above.

Disposing of Carcasses

Disposing of Livestock Carcasses —Provides guidelines for disposal of farm or ranch animals.
Affidavit for Animal Carcass Burial —The "Form Affidavit," this form can be used to document the location of the burial for deed recordation and other purposes.

See lists of landfills above.