Bonfires

Bonfires produce smoke, toxic chemicals and can cause annoyance to neighbours. 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 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.

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.