Bonfires and smoke

There is no law against having bonfires, though it is an offence for the smoke, or the smell of the smoke, to cause a nuisance. Smoke from garden bonfires in a residential area can seriously affect the residential amenity and enjoyment of other premises. It can also contribute to local air pollution levels and, in some locations, reduce visibility on nearby roads.

If materials are dry and burn quickly creating little smoke, then there is usually little problem, providing the smoke does not blow directly towards occupied premises. Damp vegetation, however, does not burn well as it produces large volumes of smoke and smoulders for long periods of time. The burning of this type of waste causes most complaints and so it should be disposed of in other ways.

The Council's policy with regard to bonfires is to seek the co-operation of residents in avoiding nuisance from bonfires by asking that garden waste and other material is composted or taken to a civic amenity site. If there is no alternative to having a bonfire then the burning should be carried out when the weather conditions are suitable.

Oxfordshire County Council provides civic amenity sites which collect garden waste for composting, a wide range of materials for recycling, and have containers for the disposal of other household waste:

Redbridge Waste Recycling Centre
-Sign posted from Abingdon Road, near the Park and Ride Car Park.

Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt
Further away but accessible from the West of the city

Ardley Fields, near Bicester
Further away but accessible from the North of the city

Nuisance

A single bonfire is unlikely to be a nuisance even though it may cause annoyance to one or more neighbours. In order to be a nuisance, there has to be evidence about the frequency of the bonfires, their duration, the locality and how the bonfire directly affects the complainant's enjoyment of their land.

For further information on composting and pollution from bonfires go to:

• The National Society for Clean Air website.
• The Centre for Alternative Technology website. 

Bonfire Guidelines

A bonfire can be a convenient way of getting rid of a large amount of waste, or perhaps you want a bonfire just for fun - on Guy Fawkes night for instance. If a bonfire is the most practicable and environmentally friendly way to dispose of dry garden waste (for example, diseased plant material that cannot be composted) warn your neighbours - they are much less likely to complain. Remember that bonfire and barbecue parties can cause noise as well as smoke.

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 on the air quality website.

Contact Us

Please contact us using the details on the right of this page for local air pollution levels and to complain about neighbours' bonfires.

Page last reviewed 14 Apr 2008