Odor and smoke hazards
Last updated: 17.04.2026Smoke and odor nuisances are often created when material unsuitable for burning in home conditions is burned in the property's fire pit or in the yard. These include, for example, plastics, wet wood and various wastes. According to waste management regulations, disposal of waste by burning is prohibited.
However, burning dry untreated wood waste, twigs and branches is permitted under certain conditions, but even these must not cause smoke, soot, odor or health hazards. It is also worth noting that when burning clean wood in a fire pit or, for example, over a campfire, the wood must be dry.
Disposal of waste by burning is prohibited. The ban does not apply to the utilization of waste for which an environmental permit or other official approval has been obtained, nor to agricultural and forestry waste for which there is a national or EU directive to incinerate, for example for the control of plant diseases or weeds.
The ban does not apply to the following:
- Burning dry untreated wood waste, twigs and branches as an open fire in a campfire or grill. The amount to be burned must be small, and the purpose must not be to dispose of waste. Untreated wood is untreated, uncoated, unpainted and does not contain adhesives.
- Burning of dry, untreated wood waste, twigs and branches in the property's fireplaces during heating.
- Using paper and cardboard as kindling in the property's fireplaces during heating.
- Burning toilets.
- Burning of the reeds, if you cannot reach the shore with a vehicle. Reeds may not be burned on ice. Combustion waste must not end up in waterways.
Burning must not cause smoke, soot, smell or health harm to the neighborhood
Burning waste causes all the aforementioned harms not only to the neighborhood, but also to the waste burners themselves. In household conditions, it is impossible to get a temperature high enough for plastic to burn properly, so when burning plastic, toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, sulfur oxides and even highly toxic furans and dioxins are formed.
Also, for example, burning impregnated wood produces toxic compounds. Pressure-impregnated timber can contain e.g. arsenic, chromium and creosote. Burning waste in fireplaces can damage the chimneys and over time affect the operation of the fireplace so that, for example, the risk of a soot fire increases.
When burning plastic, toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, sulfur oxides and even highly toxic furans and dioxins are formed.
Written initiation
Control issues regarding amenity impairments are mainly dealt with only by the sufferer of the written initiation, which must be submitted to the municipal registry office by email or post. The filing document must include a description of the nuisance and its location, the claim in the matter, the justifications, and the contact information of the notifier.
When the action is brought regarding odor or smoke nuisance, the notification letter must include: smell/smoke diary for at least a month (dates, description of the nuisance and its severity, whether the nuisance is noticeable indoors or outdoors). Written initiation cases are public (taking data protection into account) and the other party, for example, receives the initiation document as is.
-
Give feedback
In the municipality's electronic feedback service, you can leave feedback on the municipality's services, operations and decision-making, or report any shortcomings you have noticed.