Bonfires
Smoke caused by bonfires may be a considered to be a statutory nuisance, and people causing a serious problem may be fined up to £5,000.
Smoke can potentially contain gases and particles which can affect the health of children and people with asthma, bronchitis or heart problems.
If you are a council tenant, under the terms of your tenancy agreement you cannot have a bonfire on your property. If you are aware of a council tenant having a bonfire, contact your housing officer.
Bonfire alternatives
- Compost
- Recycle
- Garden waste collections
- Household Waste Recycling Site
- Special Collections (unwanted furniture and household appliances)
Bonfire tips
- Never burn household rubbish, plastic, rubber, furniture foam or tarred felt
- Do not light a bonfire if it is wet or windy
- Never leave a bonfire unsupervised or leave it to smoulder
- Avoid burning at weekends and on Bank Holidays, when neighbours want to be outside
- Only burn dry material, this will minimise the amount of smoke produced
Issues
If you have an issue with a neighbour’s bonfire, try to reach a reasonable solution with them.
If the situation does not improve, email the Environmental Health team with the details of the incident.