Until April of this year, Michigan was the last Great Lakes state that had allowed rural residents to burn household waste. But Michigan’s new Public Act 102 now prohibits the open or burn barrel burning of plastic, rubber, foam, chemically treated wood, textiles, electronics, chemicals or hazardous materials. Translation? Rural residents can still burn yard waste like brush and leaves, cardboard and paper products, but burning one of the aforementioned prohibited materials could earn violators a civil infraction with penalties ranging from a warning on their first offense to a $300 fine. The law goes into effect October 16. Make a note of it, northern Michigan.