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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour burning garden waste

14 replies

KatEddy · 25/08/2025 23:47

Our neighbours in the street are generally all really lovely. We live in a street that is mainly terraced - gardens next to gardens etc.

Yesterday and this evening our neighbour 2 doors down has been burning garden waste, generating lots of smoke and a horrible smell that's filling our house.

I complained yesterday as it was at 11am (!?) and we couldn't go into our garden or hang out washing etc and they did stop after a while, apologised for not letting us know about it.

They are doing some more tonight, starting about 8pm but it's still going (11.30). They did let us know they were going to do the burning and to shut our back windows. I've just sent a text complaining quite a lot about it, which I feel quite guilty about and wondering if I'm being unreasonable.

The smell is mostly going into my boys bedroom (4 yrs) so that's winding me up plus I don't want to go to sleep breathing in smoke or have a smelly house!! Granted I'm very tired so likely to be extra moody....

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Newmeagain · 25/08/2025 23:54

It’s a pretty antisocial thing to do in a built up area. It’s probably not illegal but should be.

TomeTome · 25/08/2025 23:58

I love the smell of woodsmoke. If it’s just a bonfire I wouldn’t mind at all. If they’ve put chemically old tires or plastic on it that’s different.

Original poster
KatEddy · 26/08/2025 00:10

TomeTome · 25/08/2025 23:58

I love the smell of woodsmoke. If it’s just a bonfire I wouldn’t mind at all. If they’ve put chemically old tires or plastic on it that’s different.

They say it's nothing inorganic as I asked if it was plastic because it smells horrible. Definitely not your traditional bonfire smell. It might be plants including grass (not dry wood).

OP posts:
TomeTome · 26/08/2025 00:11

It’s just a Septembery kind of smell.

Allisnotlost1 · 26/08/2025 00:13

KatEddy · 25/08/2025 23:47

Our neighbours in the street are generally all really lovely. We live in a street that is mainly terraced - gardens next to gardens etc.

Yesterday and this evening our neighbour 2 doors down has been burning garden waste, generating lots of smoke and a horrible smell that's filling our house.

I complained yesterday as it was at 11am (!?) and we couldn't go into our garden or hang out washing etc and they did stop after a while, apologised for not letting us know about it.

They are doing some more tonight, starting about 8pm but it's still going (11.30). They did let us know they were going to do the burning and to shut our back windows. I've just sent a text complaining quite a lot about it, which I feel quite guilty about and wondering if I'm being unreasonable.

The smell is mostly going into my boys bedroom (4 yrs) so that's winding me up plus I don't want to go to sleep breathing in smoke or have a smelly house!! Granted I'm very tired so likely to be extra moody....

Am I being unreasonable?

YANBU I have neighbours who do this and it’s awful. Woodsmoke can smell nice but it’s still bad for the air and bad for your lungs. If they’re burning unwanted wood it’s possible got chemicals/paint on it. Why not just take it to the tip or put it in the garden waste collection.

Original poster
KatEddy · 26/08/2025 00:15

Allisnotlost1 · 26/08/2025 00:13

YANBU I have neighbours who do this and it’s awful. Woodsmoke can smell nice but it’s still bad for the air and bad for your lungs. If they’re burning unwanted wood it’s possible got chemicals/paint on it. Why not just take it to the tip or put it in the garden waste collection.

Show quote history

Exactly! We offered up space in our green bin as an alternative but they've not taken us up on it.

OP posts:
youalright · 26/08/2025 00:16

Close your windows if they are fine in general why are you causing issues when you know within a couple of days they will have finished burning everything they need to.

Original poster
KatEddy · 26/08/2025 00:19

youalright · 26/08/2025 00:16

Close your windows if they are fine in general why are you causing issues when you know within a couple of days they will have finished burning everything they need to.

I'm not causing issues? I'm getting annoyed about having smoke and horrible fumes coming into my garden and house and letting them know it's affecting us. It's a warm night, I should be able to have my windows open surely!?

OP posts:
Judiezones · 26/08/2025 00:20

Our neighbours are really nice people but they have recently got one of those fire pit things for their decking. It's at the bottom of their garden but it really stinks and the smell gets in our house if the windows are open. I think it's the smell of something they use to accelerate the fire.
I put up with it because they are being thoughtful having it away from the house. They also don't play music outside, that would be worse I think.
I just put up with it, it's only once a week and it'll stop when it gets cold at night.
I think you should let your neighbours get on with it, they will soon have burnt their rubbish and it's a small amount of inconvenience to put up with for a good relationship with your neighbours.

youalright · 26/08/2025 00:25

KatEddy · 26/08/2025 00:19

I'm not causing issues? I'm getting annoyed about having smoke and horrible fumes coming into my garden and house and letting them know it's affecting us. It's a warm night, I should be able to have my windows open surely!?

Show quote history

There not stopping you i personally wouldn't if someone had a fire going but nobody is stopping you. I think its unfair to complain about things that you know will only be a day or 2. If it was a regular thing it would be different but its about give and take when you live in close proximity of others.

Agapornis · 26/08/2025 09:52

https://www.gov.uk/garden-bonfires-rules
They're not allowed to burn waste. You could complain to the council. Very odd that they haven't accepted your offer of sharing the bin.
I have a similar neighbour who has a bonfire once a year and never uses his garden waste bin 🙄 some people are idiots.

Garden bonfires: the rules

The rules about having garden bonfires, burning domestic waste, complaining about a neighbour's bonfire, fines

https://www.gov.uk/garden-bonfires-rules

lizzyBennet08 · 26/08/2025 14:55

Honestly ifs a day or two a year , I'd let it go rather than damage relationship with your neighbours

mamagogo1 · 26/08/2025 15:00

@Agapornis

some of us do not have garden waste bins. No collection here. I personally just take my garden waste to work as we have a green bin that’s barely used but other do burn once or twice a year. Can’t get worked up over that, far more annoying are barbecues every few days

Dutchhouse14 · 26/08/2025 17:27

If its an occasional bonfire of garden waste I think that's OK, if its continual and they are burning general waste then that's not on and you could complain to your councils environmental health department.
But as a one off for garden waste I think you just need to suck it up, however they should really try and do it on a still day or where wind isn't blowing towards houses and in late. Afternoon / early evening

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