On 1 March 2025, an amendment to Act No. 201/2012 Coll., on air protection, came into force, which definitively ended the current practice of burning biological waste in gardens. This amendment unifies the interpretation of the waste and air protection laws and clearly states that any plant material that we dispose of (e.g. leaves, grass, branches) is waste - and as such must be treated in the manner prescribed by law.

What specifically is prohibited?

The incineration of any biodegradable waste is prohibited, in particular:

• grass, leaves, weeds,
• branches and harvest residues,
• other garden material that can be composted.

There is also a ban on the burning of vegetation, i.e. the destruction of grassland, scrub or reeds by fire. This prohibition stems from the Fire Protection Act and its violation can be sanctioned - for natural persons with a fine of up to CZK 25,000, for legal persons up to CZK 500,000.

What remains allowed?

The ban does not apply to recreational fires, for example:

• roasting on an open fire using dry, unpolluted wood,
• lighting fires at social events.

The condition is that the material used for combustion is not waste, but normal fuel. Otherwise, it is unauthorised combustion.

To increase safety and prevent unnecessary firefighter calls, we recommend reporting the fire in advance via the website paleni.izscr.cz, where it will be registered by the operations centre of the fire brigade.

How to manage bio-waste correctly?

Biowaste from the garden should be:

• composted - ideally directly on the land in a home composter,
• placed in a brown bin if the municipality provides one,
• handed in at a collection yard or other facility designated by the municipality.

Especially for branches, it is recommended to shred them in a chipper beforehand. Bulky and slower decomposing material can also be processed well in controlled (community or municipal) composting plants.

Why this change?

The amendment responds to the long-standing problematic practice of domestic incineration of bio-waste, which:

• contributes to air pollution, especially in smaller communities and valley locations,
• often produces strong-smelling smoke containing pollutants,
• complicates the work of firefighters in evaluating reported fires.

The aim is to return the nutrients in bio-waste back to the soil while protecting public health and air quality. Burning wet leaves or grass is no longer an ecological tradition, but an unnecessary burden on the neighbourhood and the landscape.