Forest Service slash disposal sites support local Firewise programs

RESERVE, NM, August 11, 2023 – The Gila National Forest operates several slash disposal sites across the forest as a public service in support of local Firewise programs. Slash disposal sites, such as SU slash pit on the Reserve Ranger District allow neighboring residents to dump vegetative material free of charge, to be burned by the Forest Service one or two times per year. The purpose of these sites is to serve local communities and support hazardous fuels reduction on private lands.

Slash disposal sites are for vegetative material only. As long as the sites contain only vegetative materials, burning complies with New Mexico Air Quality regulations. Recently, staff have noticed an increase in dumping of household waste, such as trash, used tires, roofing, and other construction materials. Smoke from burning of materials other than woody vegetation creates health and safety hazards for your local firefighters and violates air quality regulations.

“The SU slash pit and others across the Gila National Forest provide a critical service to communities by offering a place to drop off slash and other vegetative debris, which their supports efforts to create and maintain defensible space,” said Reserve District Ranger Amanda Gehrt. “It would be extremely disappointing if we had to close these sites due to improper waste dumping.”

It is illegal to dump household waste anywhere on all National Forests. All of the Gila National Forest communities provide resources for dumping household waste. To learn about proper waste disposal in Catron County visit Catron County NM Solid Waste; for Grant County visit Grant County NM Solid Waste; for Sierra County visit Sierra County NM Solid Waste; for Hidalgo County visit Hidalgo County NM Transfer Station. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov.