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Harborcreek adopts ordinance amendment banning burning of recyclables, leaves and brush after DEP warning
Summary
After a public hearing prompted by a Department of Environmental Protection review, Harborcreek supervisors moved to adopt an amendment to Ordinance 2024-241 to prohibit burning recyclable materials and to prohibit burning leaves and brush to align the township code with state law; board members voiced enforcement concerns but accepted the change.
Harborcreek Township supervisors moved to adopt an amendment to Ordinance 2024-241 that would prohibit burning recyclable materials and would expressly prohibit the burning of leaves and brush to match state regulations cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The chair told the board that DEP officials had said they were "less than satisfied" with the township's recycling definitions regarding burning and warned the township that future state funds could be withheld unless the township amended its ordinance to match state law. "We're being held hostage on this thing," the chair said, describing the economic pressure behind the proposed change.
Board members acknowledged enforcement challenges. Mr. May called the requirement another "unfunded mandate," asking how the township would enforce weekend burning violations when staff levels are limited. The chair said the township would try to be reasonable and would not treat small recreational fires as the same as large uncontrolled burns.
During the public hearing, resident Vicky Roberts (Leary Road) urged adoption, arguing that putting the prohibition "on the books puts a standard out there" and that written rules often produce voluntary compliance. The chair and staff discussed the distinction between hazardous large-scale leaf burning and small recreational fires; the board said it did not intend to pursue enforcement against typical recreational campfires.
Nut graf: The amendment responds to DEP pressure to align the township's ordinance with state law; the board adopted the change during the March 18 meeting while signaling it will focus enforcement resources on serious violations rather than minor recreational fires.
The chair closed the public hearing and Mr. May moved to adopt the amendment to Ordinance 2024-241; the chair seconded and board members present indicated yes votes. No DEP representative was present to speak at the hearing and the board did not adopt any new enforcement staffing or funding measures at the meeting.
The ordinance change is now recorded as adopted by the supervisors; staff will incorporate the amendment into the township code and follow up on enforcement guidance and any related funding conversations with state authorities.
