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AIBU?

to think bonfires should be banned in ALL residential areas?

20 replies

DoesItWearingWellies · 14/08/2011 19:34

In our area, people seem to be fans of having bonfires for the purposes of waste disposal, usually when the weather has been nice and people have their windows open.

Naturally, the smell gets blown in and we have to close the windows and/or come inside, thus ruining our enjoyment of our house and garden.

We have weekly waste collections for household waste, recycling AND kitchen/garden waste, so people shouldn't have things they need to burn. Also, our civic amenity site is only a 10minute drive away and is open every day of the week from 8am-4pm and our council will often collect other waste if you give them a ring.

I have no problem with people having bonfires around bonfire night, since that's when they are expected, but I feel there is absolutely no need for them any other time of the year.

I'm also surprised they are allowed to have bonfires when we can't even have open fires/log burning stoves in our houses because of the clean air directive.

OP posts:

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/08/2011 19:40

Fires in small urban gardens can be antisocial. But in bigger gardens, like mine, where the green wheelie bin gets full up far too fast with prunings etc, the incinerator is often the only way to keep in control

Birdsgottafly · 14/08/2011 19:40

I thought that there was a acceptable list of what you could burn.

I agree, i have a chiminea but i buy what i use in it, usually smokeless and only burn it once it is dark.

GiveMeStrength2day · 14/08/2011 19:50

YANBU
DoesIt - I could actually have written your post virtually word for word! The ignorance and inconsideration of people having these bonfires leaves me speechless (I'm talking about small urban gardens). One of my neighbours has been doing this since they bought the house nearly 2 years ago - they don't live there so clearly don't give a flying whatsname either! The final straw was recently when I came home from taking DD to school. It was 9.30am and this berk had a full on bonfire going! Why??? We have a recycling centre around the corner - there's nothing that they are burning that isn't accepted at the recycling centre. I've now contacted my MP. I'm sure he has better things to worry about but I thought I'd give him something to do! To be fair he does seem to have struck up some correspondence with the local council. We shall see.

Vinniesbisqwits · 14/08/2011 19:53

depends where you live where I am were allowed to burn anything on the fire ordinary cole, smokeless fuel, wood ive a friend whos a fireman and is my chimney sweep informs me, there is no law prohibiting bon fires for burning rubbish and garden waste except they must be safe , you shouldnt light them if you live right next to a busy road as the smoke can drift causing danger to road users for this you can be fined, but you should tell neighbours your having one and not have one if their washings out or you can obviously hear there enjoying relaxing in their garden out of general politeness

Vinniesbisqwits · 14/08/2011 19:54

coal even

Currysecret · 14/08/2011 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vinniesbisqwits · 14/08/2011 19:57

sorry forgot to say we have a recycling centre near us a large garden waste wheely bin and ive only on a couple of occasions in 7 years burned garden waste when my neighbour is away nothing houshold as our council collects items free of charge and then there is also freecycle that i often use

Vinniesbisqwits · 14/08/2011 19:58

see every council should be able to collect free of charge shouldnt they we dont get fly tipping because they are so good on collections

Vinniesbisqwits · 14/08/2011 19:59

Bonfire Guidelines
If a bonfire is the best practicable option for disposing of garden waste, follow these guidelines and the chances are you won't annoy your neighbours or cause serious nuisance. 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 Avoid lighting a fire in unsuitable weather conditions - smoke hangs in the air on damp, still days and in the evening. If it is windy, smoke may be blown into neighbours gardens and across roads. Avoid burning when air pollution in your area is high or very high. This information is included in weather forecasts, or you can check by ringing 0800 556677, or at www.airquality.co.uk

ravenAK · 14/08/2011 20:03

I incinerate stuff like broken wooden furniture that wouldn't be much use for recycling, & garden weeds. Only after dark (so people unlikely to have washing out or windows open), & at the bottom of the garden. The chimney of the incinerator directs the smoke up, & there isn't usually much.

On the same basis you'd have to ban barbecues too, or even people having a fag in the gardens of smaller properties - when I lived in a small terraced house our neighbours doing either was extremely noticeable from our living room.

DoesItWearingWellies · 14/08/2011 20:30

I wish people smoking in their gardens could be banned! One of our NDNs smokes just outside their back door, below our bedroom and next to our family room. It's disgusting.

I don't mind BBQs as I quite like the smell and love them myself.

The gardens around here aren't huge - mostly 30ftx40ft and everyone is surrounded on at least 3 sides so there's no real space between the bottoms of gardens and houses.

I think politeness is often ignored, or at least people don't seem to have common sense beyond just wanting to get rid of the stuff in their garden. I think that because I wouldn't dream of having a bonfire when the weather has been nice and it may annoy neighbours, I expect others to have the same courtesy.

OP posts:

DogsBestFriend · 14/08/2011 20:43

Jolly for you that you quite like the smell of barbeques and love them yourself OP. Some of us would like them banned - we don't all love the smell of searing animal flesh. I'd far rather the smell of a bonfire where it's unlikely that body parts are going to be incinerated.

One man's meat and all that...

worraliberty · 14/08/2011 20:48

People burn things here cos most dont have a car and the council charges £30 to collect stuff

That's exactly what I was going to say. Why does the OP assume everyone has a car?

Also, wanting the smoke from a small cigarette banned in people's back gardens but not BBQs as you like the smell of them?

Picky much?

DoesItWearingWellies · 14/08/2011 21:13

The neighbours that seem to have the bonfires around here DO have cars, and in one case, one even has a van.

There was also a BT engineer around the corner who used to take old cable home with him and burn the plastic coating off it. That was rancid.

I wouldn't mind if people did it when it's dark and it's been a crap, cold day, but in the middle of the evening or even during the day, especially when it's been a nice day, I feel is discourteous.

And as for BBQs just being about cooking flesh, my DD1 is vegetarian, as is her best friend, and at uni around the beginning and end of term (when the weather is good) they have BBQs on the green behind the halls of residence, cooking vegetable kebabs and Quorn sausages. She also doesn't say anything about meat on the BBQ at home, as long as her food is kept separate.

OP posts:

worraliberty · 14/08/2011 21:15

Either way they still billow smoke and stink of bbq fuel...far worse than a little cigarette...but not as bad as a bonfire.

sillybillies · 14/08/2011 21:23

op - do you live in my road as I was having the same moan a few hours back. We're off on holiday so I'm getting all the washing done so now I have smokey smelling clothes.

TalkinPeace2 · 14/08/2011 21:32

Where I live we've had one green waste collection since Easter and one recycling bin collection since the start of May.
Normal bin has been collected twice since the start of May.
I compost what I can but reserve the right to burn flammables.
No idea when the bin men will start working as my council taxes pay them to again.

redexpat · 14/08/2011 22:16

Well we have a recycling centre 5 minutes around the corner, and we're not allowed to burn stuff in the garden. PITA. It's open from 4-6 on weekdays. But if we cut the hedge we cant cut it, get it in the trailer, get there and back and do it all again, so cutting the hedge takes almost a week allowing for weather. Same for raking leaves - would be so much easier to burn the lot. Although I'm with you on burning non organic materials with horrible fumes.

TalkinPeace2 · 14/08/2011 22:20

My nearest recycling centre is a 25 minute drive away
and I'm PAYING for my bins to be emptied
but the lazy bin men are "working to rule" / on strike / goodness knows.

Will probably do a full car load in the next day or so.

HATE people who burn plastic

mummytotwoboys · 14/08/2011 22:53

YABU bonfires smell gorgeous!!! (I guess thats personal preference though)

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