As you prepare to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night this year, please be mindful of the materials you are burning. Some toxins never disintegrate and have a lasting impact on the environment. They can also cause health issues to those who breathe polluted air.
When building a bonfire, people are encouraged to be aware of their waste duty of care and not burn waste items such as tyres, treated wood, plastics, fuels, metals and glass. These items can have a lasting impact on the environment when burned. Only dry garden waste, untreated wood and small amounts of leaves should be burned.
Any bonfire should be prepared on the day it will be lit to prevent any wildlife, such as hedgehogs, from using it as shelter. Bonfires should also always be lit from one corner, rather than in the centre, to give any wildlife a chance to escape.
There is no law against having a bonfire, but it is an offence for the smoke or smell to cause a nuisance. It is also possible that visibility is reduced on nearby roads.
Councillor Tommy Smith, Neighbourhoods and Environment Services commented:
“The safest way to celebrate Bonfire Night is to attend an organised public event. If you are planning a bonfire, please think carefully about what you burn. No form of bonfire is helpful to the environment so try to be as eco-friendly as possible and be mindful that it is an offence to dispose of waste in a way that may cause pollution to the environment.”