(The Center Square) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is getting the “Grinch” treatment for vetoing a bill that would have allowed communities to hold traditional Christmas tree bonfires.
The bipartisan proposal, which passed the state Assembly and Senate unanimously, would have essentially repealed a state environmental rule banning the open burning of Christmas trees to allow local governments to host the annual bonfires.
In his veto message, Murphy acknowledged the importance of the annual bonfires to many communities but said the tradition impacts public health and the environment and contributes to climate change.
“I appreciate that holiday bonfires have been a cherished tradition in certain municipalities, bringing communities together in celebration, attracting tourists in the winter months, and raising money for charitable purposes,” the governor wrote. “However, protecting the health of our most vulnerable residents must come first.”
But lawmakers were quick to compare Murphy to the “Grinch” in Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas story, with many suggesting that the impact on public health and the environment is negligible.
“Makes no sense,” state Sen. Sen. Andrew Zwicker, D-Middlesex, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, posted on social media. “Some towns that have long-existing community bonfire celebrations were burning wooden pallets and having to clean up the nails afterwards. How are Xmas trees worse? And they smell better.”
Murphy cited a recent uptick in wildfires he suggested could become worse with public bonfires and said he can’t support a measure that “would directly weaken the air quality protections that all New Jersey residents deserve.”
“There are many ways to celebrate the winter season,” he wrote, “and I am confident that New Jersey’s vibrant and resourceful communities will find meaningful new traditions to bring people together without the harmful public health and environmental effects of open-air tree burning.”
New Jersey’s environmental regulators had previously allowed local governments that obtain permits to hold the annual bonfires but shifted course in 2020 with a rule banning the practice.
“Christmas tree bonfires are not safe,” the state Department of Environmental Protection wrote in an advisory. “In contrast to safe wood burning, the wood is not dry and will create more smoke than otherwise necessary.”
The agency pointed out that many Christmas trees “still have some amount of decorations on them, including tinsel, lighting and missed ornaments; none of these items should ever be burned in an open fire as they can emit a variety of toxic releases.”
“The burning of wood emits small particles and potentially air toxins if not properly handled,” the agency said. “For some people, even short-term exposure to wood smoke can aggravate lung or heart conditions.”
The rules allow the agency to levy fines against local governments and individuals for burning Christmas trees, but it’s unclear whether anyone has been cited.
