Bonfire Night is this week, and anyone planning a garden bonfire at home could face a fine of up to £50,000 or imprisonment if they burn prohibited materials. Government guidelines apply to all home bonfires, not just public displays.
Stan Staykov, founder of Rubbish Removal UK, said: "To avoid a fine if you're planning a bonfire at home, make sure that you're only burning materials that are safe to burn. Do not use Bonfire Night as a chance to burn your household waste. Government guidance exists to help ensure that your fire doesn't cause a nuisance, cause pollution or harm anyone's health, including your own."
Prohibited Items for Bonfires
General household rubbish must not be burned and should be recycled or disposed of through appropriate channels. When preparing a bonfire, only dry, unpainted timber and modest quantities of kindling should be used.
- 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
These items can be taken to a local household waste recycling centre or collected by a registered waste carrier.
Fines and Enforcement
Staykov added: "Every year you hear about people burning all sorts of rubbish and doing a lot of harm to their neighbours, local wildlife and the environment as a result. Some people may not even realise that they are breaking the law, which is why it is so important for those planning a bonfire to be aware of what they can and can't burn."
According to the Environment Agency, those caught burning prohibited materials could face fines reaching as much as £50,000.
Ben Shayler of the Environment Agency said: "We want people to have fun on Bonfire Night - but to do so safely and in a way that won't create a risk to the environment, wildlife, you and your neighbours. The best way of doing that is to stop burning waste altogether and go to a properly organised community event where organisers have followed our guidelines and won't be causing a hazard."
Shayler also advised that anyone paying for waste removal should check the carrier is licensed, as criminals in illegal waste operations may use the celebration to dispose of hazardous and inappropriate waste.
