Like anything else, this can be done prudently or not. Shortly after we built in 85 the "neighbor" (who did not live on the property...he had a small pole barn and a pond there) dragged a pile of who-knows-what in front of his barn (about even with our front porch and perhaps 100' away), lit it, threw a huge number of paint and other metal cans (including herbicide/insecticide) on top, and LEFT! The smoke was horrible, thick, acrid, and quite possibly toxic. I called the fire department. He returned about 30 minutes later to find them there and was literally enraged. Our already shaky relationship completely deteriorated. Fortunately for me he soon sold the property. Other neighbors have burned "stuff" and as long as I don't get smoke in my windows, I don't care. I do take exception when they burn tires and such, and will tell them so as politely as possible, but I am not tolerant of having to breathe burning tires when I'm on my own property.