Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why isn’t burning waste to avoid going to the dump, illegal?

34 replies

Decisionsdecisions1 · 05/04/2026 15:02

Why isn’t burning garden waste, wood etc in domestic garden banned?

Dumps exist for a reason - for the proper disposal of waste. What’s the point if people can just burn it all in their garden to avoid a trip to the dump?

Our whole house, and those of our neighbours, now stinks of smoke, including bedding (and the windows have been closed). All because someone can’t be arsed to drive 15 mins to the dump.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
JohnofWessex · 05/04/2026 21:29

I would contact both The Police and the Fire Brigade then

Original poster
Decisionsdecisions1 · 05/04/2026 21:27

Just to update, the bonfire is still going. It’s been ten hours. And because his two dogs are aggressive no one feels able to knock on his door.

Such a shame as they’re the only unreasonable neighbour on the street that behaves like this.

OP posts:
Theverylasttwo · 05/04/2026 21:14

Locally it's likely to get worse as they council has brought in a limited number of free trips in a 12 month period to use the tip. This is in addition to the cost of a green waste bin which they've been charging to empty for a few years now. I'm not surprised people have turned to burning waste themselves.

topcat2014 · 05/04/2026 21:07

Everyone near me seems to burn plastic whenever the sun comes out

JohnofWessex · 05/04/2026 20:53

Overtheatlantic · 05/04/2026 19:16

My disgusting neighbour waits until it’s a sunny day and the rest of us have our washing out or the windows open and then he lights the smokiest fire and drives away. He ignores the letters from the council and the fire brigade. Calls me a cunt when I complain.

If he uses abusive language call the police on 999

You can also ask for an anti social behaviour case review if he carries on

Sartre · 05/04/2026 19:21

Totally agree. Our NDN’s always do it but they also burn plastic which I’m almost certain is illegal and if it isn’t, it should be. It’s disgusting. We can smell it in the house even with the windows closed- think it comes through vents.

MummyWillow1 · 05/04/2026 19:20

Tableforjoan · 05/04/2026 19:04

You can complain to the council about allotment fires.

Our have them set to only between October and March and only two days a week.

Show quote history

Ours aren’t council allotments, it is an allotment association and they have absolutely no interest (and neither do the council). I’ve complained a number of times over the last 20+ years!

Overtheatlantic · 05/04/2026 19:16

My disgusting neighbour waits until it’s a sunny day and the rest of us have our washing out or the windows open and then he lights the smokiest fire and drives away. He ignores the letters from the council and the fire brigade. Calls me a cunt when I complain.

JohnofWessex · 05/04/2026 19:11

Many years ago my then girlfriend was clearing her allotment

One dry day we burnt the stuff a handful at a time in an old bin, minimal smoke

Bohemond23 · 05/04/2026 19:11

Our bonfire is currently the size of a living room. We are rural and will light it when it’s dried out a bit. Will check for hedgehogs first.

Tableforjoan · 05/04/2026 19:04

MummyWillow1 · 05/04/2026 19:02

Drives me crazy - our house backs on to allotments. March and October we can’t hang washing at all as people use any fine day to burn garden waste.

It terrifies me, I’ve had to call the fire brigade twice as people have let the fires get out of control, one damaged our next door neighbours fence and took a whole shed down.

It also isn’t clear that it is only garden waste they are burning, the smoke can sometimes be so toxic.

I’ve spoken to a couple of the allotment owners in the past, they are always really apologetic, claiming they only burn once/twice a year - but there are 12+ allotments which soon adds up to 24+ fires a year! When I point this out they all look a bit shame faced and it is slowly getting better but there are still a couple with no consideration!

You can complain to the council about allotment fires.

Our have them set to only between October and March and only two days a week.

AgnesMcDoo · 05/04/2026 19:02

It’s illegal in lots of places

MummyWillow1 · 05/04/2026 19:02

Drives me crazy - our house backs on to allotments. March and October we can’t hang washing at all as people use any fine day to burn garden waste.

It terrifies me, I’ve had to call the fire brigade twice as people have let the fires get out of control, one damaged our next door neighbours fence and took a whole shed down.

It also isn’t clear that it is only garden waste they are burning, the smoke can sometimes be so toxic.

I’ve spoken to a couple of the allotment owners in the past, they are always really apologetic, claiming they only burn once/twice a year - but there are 12+ allotments which soon adds up to 24+ fires a year! When I point this out they all look a bit shame faced and it is slowly getting better but there are still a couple with no consideration!

DiscoBeat · 05/04/2026 18:55

I think they shouldn't be allowed within a certain distance of others. We have a bit of distance and also watch for the wind direction so that the wind is blowing away from other houses. And we never burn anything other than garden waste.

Tableforjoan · 05/04/2026 18:21

It’s wood and chopped trees/shrubs from their own garden? I couldn’t get worked up over that pretty normal in our area as we all have large gardens with lots of trees and bushes so come trimming season it’s a given.

Burning actual general waste now that’s a problem.

JohnofWessex · 05/04/2026 18:17

GlasgowGal2014 · 05/04/2026 15:50

At least it's wood and garden waste he's burning. My neighbours burn plastic waste and it creates a terrible smoke that all blows towards our house. I hoped they'd stop when they had a baby, but they haven't. They've got one of the extra large wheelie bins too, so there's no need for them to burn excess waste.

Council asap its an offence

trainedopossum · 05/04/2026 16:41

I think it depends on where you are and what is burning. NDN’s builder was burning building waste and we got in touch with the council. Environment officer was there in half an hour.

GlasgowGal2014 · 05/04/2026 15:50

At least it's wood and garden waste he's burning. My neighbours burn plastic waste and it creates a terrible smoke that all blows towards our house. I hoped they'd stop when they had a baby, but they haven't. They've got one of the extra large wheelie bins too, so there's no need for them to burn excess waste.

PixeyandDixey · 05/04/2026 15:44

Agree they're annoying but what are people supposed to do with garden waste if they don't have a car to get to the tip and can't afford the (not always cheap) council garden waste service?

I'm not a fan of bonfires but getting rid of garden waste is a problem so might have to consider it.

Original poster
Decisionsdecisions1 · 05/04/2026 15:33

JohnofWessex · 05/04/2026 15:28

How about some easy to understand rules with clear consequences

Eg garden waste and wood only and between sunset and sunrise with no excessive smoke

This.

OP posts:
Original poster
Decisionsdecisions1 · 05/04/2026 15:33

OttersOnAPlane · 05/04/2026 15:17

Our kids have many happy memories of roasting marshmallows over a fire in the garden. We'd save dry wood for ages so we could have a couple of fires on summer evenings.

Around here people tend to message the neighbours if they're planning to light a fire so no one's washing is affected.

It's not a fun for the family bonfire (they don't have young kids and don't have friends round). He's clearing the garden and doing some woodwork - and avoiding going to the dump.

OP posts:
LeftBoobGoneRogue · 05/04/2026 15:32

I agree with you @Decisionsdecisions1.
The only time we’ve burnt any garden waste is on 5th November late in the evening. Otherwise it goes into the garden waste bin or we do a trip to the dump.

JohnofWessex · 05/04/2026 15:28

How about some easy to understand rules with clear consequences

Eg garden waste and wood only and between sunset and sunrise with no excessive smoke

Swipe left for the next trending thread