With Bonfire Night approaching, it’s important to know that you can only burn certain items during your bonfire, or you risk facing a fine.
While bonfires are typically held at public firework events, garden bonfires are permitted in the UK, provided you follow specific rules. If you are considering hosting a garden bonfire this year, here’s what you need to keep in mind.
As families prepare for Bonfire Night, waste collection experts from Business Waste have shared advice on what items should and should not be used in a bonfire, along with tips on how to avoid fines.
They advise, “If you’re hosting a bonfire, stick to clean, dry materials only. Bonfires should never be used as a means to dispose of waste.” Acceptable items include dry, untreated, unpainted wood, small amounts of plain paper or cardboard for kindling, and dry garden waste such as twigs, leaves, and small branches.
General waste should not be put on bonfires, such as the following:
– Painted, varnished, or treated wood
– Household rubbish, furniture, plastics, or packaging
– Rubber, tyres, or foam materials
– Wet or green garden waste that creates heavy smoke
Can you be fined for having a bonfire?
The experts at Business Waste warn that burning waste that produces dark smoke is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This can lead to fines of up to £50,000 or even 12 months in prison.
Local authorities can also issue on-the-spot penalties for smaller offences, particularly if a bonfire produces nuisance smoke or poses a threat to nearby property.
The government website states that you can be fined if you light a fire and allow the smoke to drift across the road, endangering traffic.
Mark Hall, a waste collection expert at Business Waste, said: “Every year, we see people lighting bonfires with whatever rubbish they can find, from plastic packaging to old furniture. Not only is that illegal, but it is also dangerous to neighbouring houses and detrimental to your health.
“Most people don’t intend to break the law, but they often don’t realise that burning household waste is considered illegal disposal. If the fire produces dark or chemical smoke, you risk facing substantial fines and causing serious environmental harm.
“If you’re hosting a bonfire this year, use only clean, dry wood, and keep it away from trees, fences, or sheds. If you’re unsure how to dispose of waste materials safely, check with your local council’s collection service or recycling site instead of burning them. By doing so, you’ll avoid fines, protect your health, and help improve overall air quality, which benefits everyone.
“Remember, if you wouldn’t want to breathe it in safely, you shouldn’t be burning it. Dispose of waste properly and enjoy Bonfire Night without jeopardising your community or the environment.”
As experts at Business Waste explain, burning materials such as old furniture, classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) waste, releases toxic fumes and fine particulate matter.
These microscopic particles can enter the lungs and bloodstream, worsening air quality and posing serious health risks.
Research from Waste Managed indicates that garden waste bonfires can produce up to 30 times more particulate pollution than burning clean, untreated wood.
The Environment Agency also cautions that unregulated burning contributes to local air quality problems.
The Government website advises getting rid of household or garden waste through composting or recycling. It says: “Contact your local council to find out how to dispose of garden waste and learn about recycling in your area.”
For more information about Business Waste, click HERE
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