1. Burning at any time by farmers, or by their agents or employees under strict supervision and in the course of their employment. As used in this section, the word "farm" shall be defined as in the 1970 Federal Census:
   
   
   1. An area of ten or less contiguous acres having an annual sale of agricultural products not less than $250.00, or
      
      
   2. An area greater than ten contiguous acres having an annual sale of agricultural products not less than $50.00, or more.
      
      
2. Burning authorized by a special permit issued by the state environmental protection agency, pursuant to the provision of Part 237 of Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code as amended; or
   
   
3. Burning of fuels for campfire, picnic, or other recreational purposes in areas where such burning is consistent with other laws.
   
   

(c) Open burning permitted by the terms of the exceptions stated in this section shall under no circumstances, occur upon the sidewalk, right-of-way, or the paved or improved portions of any street, highway, or other public roadway.

(d) No open burning of garbage or refuse, except for yard waste, shall be permitted at any time.

(e) Alternatives to open burning of landscape waste, including leaves, are required of all residents subject to this ordinance and may include the following for which detailed information is available through a variety of organizations, including the University of Illinois Extension Service and Winnebago/Rockford Clean & Beautiful. Alternatives to unlawful burning include:

1. Shredding of leaves while mowing and leaving the mulch on the lawn to add nutrients to the soil;
2. Mulching of grass clippings and/or shredding of leaves while mowing and using shredded leaves and/or grass to mulch around shrubs and garden plants;
3. Mulching of grass clippings and/or shredding of leaves while mowing, collecting clippings and shredded leaves and creating an on-site compost pile;
4. Collecting of grass clippings or shredding of leaves while mowing to reduce volume and bagging grass and/or leaves for transport by homeowner to a commercial or public compost center;
5. Collecting of grass clippings or shredding of leaves while mowing and bagging grass and/or leaves for collection by a private waste hauler during regular or special garbage or refuse pick up.
6. Collecting twigs and branches or other landscape waste for disposal either at a public or private compost or chipping site or for bagging and pick up by a public or private refuse hauler.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that a minimum fine of $100 shall be imposed for the first offense with one-half or the collected fine to be remitted to any Fire Protection District that was required to respond to the incident from which the fine was assessed. (as amended by the County Board on 9/26/02)