BATON ROUGE--When people burn waste, it causes air pollution and, in some cases, can be illegal. Open burning of certain materials is prohibited in Louisiana. There are also local ordinances pertaining to what can and can’t be burned. If you have a trash pile and burn household waste, construction debris or anything other than vegetative matter, you could pay a fine

Some materials that should NEVER be burned are:

• Plastic and other synthetic materials

• Tires and other rubber products

• Paints, household and agricultural chemicals

• Asphalt shingles, heavy oils, wire

• Newspaper, cardboard and other paper products

• Buildings and mobile homes

Outdoor fires pollute the air and can make it difficult to breathe. Citizens can call DEQ to report illegal open burning at 225-219-3640 or call the DEQ regional office that serves your parish. You may call the regional office for any environmental issue or complaint with the information below:

• Northwest Regional Office in Shreveport is Larry Baldwin, Regional Manager, at 318-676-7227.

Parishes served: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, De Soto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Webster

• Northeast Regional Office in Monroe is Larry Baldwin, Regional Manager, at 318-362-5439 in Monroe and 318-487-5656 in Pineville.

Parishes served: Avoyelles, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, Tensas, Union, West Carroll and Winn

• Southwest Regional Office in Lake Charles is Billy Eakin, Regional Manager, at 337-491-2667.

Parishes served: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vernon

• Southeast Regional Office in New Orleans is Mike Algero, Regional Manager, at 504-736-7701; in Lafourche, 985-532-9945.

Parishes served: Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Washington

• Acadiana Regional Office in Lafayette is Ray Clement, Regional Manager, at 337-262-5584.

Parishes served: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion

• Capital Regional Office in Baton Rouge is Bobby Mayweather, Regional Manager, at 225-219-3600.

Parishes served: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, St. Martin, Tangipahoa, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.