Website of the UK government

How to dispose of garden waste

There are many ways to get rid of your garden waste without making a bonfire. For example, most garden waste can be recycled by composting, including:

• Composting and disposing of garden and kitchen waste (environment and greener living section)

The harmful effects of bonfires

Burning garden waste produces smoke, especially if that waste is green or damp, that can give off harmful pollutants. Burning plastic, rubber or painted materials creates poisonous fumes.

Bonfire smoke can have damaging health effects, particularly for those with existing health problems, like:

• asthmatics
• bronchitis sufferers
• people with heart conditions

Nuisance

If you are having a bonfire, the smoke, soot, and smell created by the fire can annoy your neighbours. Smoke can prevent your neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging washing out. Smoke also reduces visibility in the neighbourhood and on roads.

If your neighbours are having a bonfire and you are bothered by smoke, approach them and explain the problem. You might feel awkward, but they may not be aware of the distress they are causing. Hopefully, they will understand and be more considerate in the future. If talking to your neighbours fails, contact your local council's environmental health department. However, if your neighbours only occasionally light bonfires, this is unlikely to be considered a nuisance in law. The Environmental Protection UK leaflet 'Garden Bonfires' explains the situation in more detail.

• Download 'Garden Bonfires' - Environmental Protection UK (PDF document 131K) Opens new window

Safety

You should take care when burning waste because:

• fire can spread to fences or buildings and scorch trees and plants
• rubbish may contain bottles or cans that can explode when burnt
• piles of garden waste are often used as a refuge by hibernating wildlife and sleeping pets

Under the Highways Act 1980, anyone lighting a fire and allowing smoke to drift across a road faces a fine if it endangers traffic. Contact the police in this case.

Bonfire guidelines

A bonfire may be the only way of disposing of garden waste that can't be composted. If you have to use a bonfire to dispose of garden waste, or on Bonfire Night, warn your neighbours – they are much less likely to complain.

Follow these good bonfire guidelines:

• only burn dry material
  
• never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres, or anything containing plastic, foam or paint
  
• never use old engine oil, meths or petrol to light the fire or encourage it to burn
  
• avoid lighting a fire if it’s windy or on damp, still days, when the smoke may hang in the air
• avoid burning when air pollution in your area is high or very high - check the weather forecast, or the Air Quality website

• Weather forecasts for the UK Opens new window
• Find out more about pollution levels in your neighbourhood from the air quality website Opens new window

More useful links

• Greener garden (environment and greener living section)