Guy Fawkes: Burning Rubbish on 5th November is Illegal

Getting rid of waste can be such a dull and time-consuming task, that it can be tempting to take shortcuts to get rid of it as soon as possible – and with bonfire night on the horizon you could be tempted to shove your rubbish onto the fire so you never have to see it again.

However, that comes with the risk of releasing toxic fumes into the air, explosions, asbestos exposure, and leaving a legacy of pollution.

This is something Alex from Reading has experienced first-hand – “I saw someone bung a load of old motor trade waste onto a bonfire, and the resulting explosions as the oil cans went off were terrifying.”

It’s not just motor waste that environment officers have found lurking in the depths of bonfires up and down the UK, but everything from household rubbish, furniture and mattresses, to old caravans and boats.

Hall: “All of these things being burnt are responsible for causing irreparable damage to our environment, by polluting our air, soil, water and poisoning our plants and animals. 

“And who’s setting fire to boats?” he asks, “There can’t be that many disaffected Bullseye winners out there!”

So, what can you burn this bonfire night?

Legally, you are within your right to have a bonfire on November 5^th without needing a permit, but there are Environment Agency rules to make sure you aren’t causing a nuisance or any harm to human health or the environment.

These include:

• Only burn clean, dry, untreated and unpainted wood (painted wood constitutes a health hazard)
• Only use a small amount of cardboard and paper to start the fire
• Do not burn any plastic, rubber, glass, oils or metal
• Make sure your fire is the right size for the event
• Keep the fire secure and constantly watched

What about garden waste? Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s safe to burn just because it’s a natural product, as studies have shown that it can create 30 times the amount of smoke than burning logs on a stove, releasing more toxic fumes into the air and into your lungs and the surrounding environment.

For those who are not planning on having a bonfire this year, there is still the worry about how your rubbish might be contributing to illegal fires this November.

“You need to be wary of people offering to collect rubbish, so make sure any waste collector you use is a trustworthy licensed waste carrier,” says BusinessWaste.co.uk spokesperson Mark Hall

“The last thing you want is for some rogue trader to take advantage and burn your rubbish to save themselves the hassle of illegally dumping it in a lay-by, or paying the fees for it to be correctly disposed of.”

Burning the wrong kind of waste could carry a fine up to £50,000, so make sure you don’t fall victim to a pyromaniac criminal this bonfire night because it could cost you more than a night of fun and flames this November.