East Suffolk Council
Fireworks and bonfires
While firework displays are widely enjoyed by many people, the noise associated with loud fireworks can cause a great deal of distress to other people, as well as pets, farm animals and wildlife.
Fireworks also have impacts on the environment, with the release of pollutants having the potential to contribute to air quality issues and the associated waste and falling debris leading to unnecessary litter, with the potential to cause direct harm to livestock and wildlife.
East Suffolk Council encourage anyone planning any type of fireworks display, whether at home or as part of a community or commercial event, to reflect best practice and consider lower-impact alternatives to fireworks.
- Please be considerate of your neighbours. If you are planning fireworks, or a bonfire, make sure you tell them in advance. This will enable them to take the appropriate steps to prepare themselves, especially if they have pets, are elderly, vulnerable or have children.
- Please ensure that the fallout zone is cleared of any litter and debris promptly.
- Please consider quieter fireworks up to 90dB, and/or silent fireworks, as a proportion of the display.
- There is a range of other fund-raising activities that avoid or carry much reduced impacts on animals and vulnerable people. Examples include laser shows or drone light shows, which are starting to become more popular as near-direct alternatives to fireworks displays.
Fireworks on land owned by the council
If anyone intends to discharge fireworks from council-owned land, we would of course expect that a detailed application be submitted for use of the land, ahead of a risk assessment review by our Corporate Health and Safety team. Any event held on East Suffolk Council land must comply with our Terms and Conditions
Always follow the guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive, in conjunction with the laws setting out when fireworks can be purchased and used
Please note that sky lanterns and balloon releases are not a suitable alternative to fireworks. These pose additional risks of harm to animals, pets, livestock and wildlife, with additional risks of fire posed by sky lanterns. The release of sky lanterns and balloons is not permitted from land owned by East Suffolk Council.
Bonfires
Bonfires produce smoke and toxic chemicals and can cause annoyance to neighbours as well as a danger to animals. Much of the rubbish we create can be recycled - please recycle your garden waste or consider home composting.
Lighting a bonfire should be a last resort when there is no other suitable means of disposal. Please consider the following:
- Make sure the material is dry before it is burnt. This makes the combustion process more effective.
- Check the waste to make sure there are no pressurised containers or other items that are dangerous to burn.
- Do not burn materials such as household rubbish, rubber tyres, paint, foam or anything containing plastic.
- Talk to your neighbours before having a bonfire, to avoid potential problems such as smoke blowing over clean washing or through open windows.
- Check the wind direction before lighting your bonfire, to make sure the smoke will blow away from your neighbours.
Our garden bonfires leaflet provides further guidance for lighting bonfires and explains what you can do if a bonfire affects you.
Be extra mindful of local wildlife when lighting a bonfire. Hedgehogs in particular like to reside inside the stacks of materials bonfires are built from, so please make sure you check for any wildlife. The best way of doing this is by moving the whole bonfire by hand immediately before lighting it.