State wants to ban leaf burning across Iowa

The State Environmental Protection Commission will vote on rules today to gradually force a ban on leaf and yard waste burning across the state. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Brian Button says the new rules would ban burning in any city where recycling of yard wastes is available.The state has left the decision to ban leaf burning up to local governments, but the new rules would change that.Button says the burning ban also includes people living in rural areas. He says county governments are supposed to set up a site where people can take their yard waste and trash. Button works for the D-N-R’s Air Quality Bureau. He says the burn ban evolves out of a concern over the pollution caused by burning.Button says the commission would like to slowly implement the ban.He says there is opposition to the move and they expect to hear from that opposition today. The commission will consider the new rules today.