In London, burning garden waste at home is legally allowed, but there are strict guidelines and local regulations that you need to follow to ensure you do not cause a nuisance or harm to others. Here’s a straightforward summary:
Permitted Burning
You are allowed to burn garden waste such as leaves, branches, and plant tissue on your property. It’s essential to ensure this waste is untreated and has originated from your property.
Avoiding Nuisance
Although legal, local councils strongly discourage burning garden waste due to the potential nuisance and health risks from the smoke, particularly to neighbors with respiratory conditions or heart issues.
Legal Consequences
If your bonfire causes a statutory nuisance—where smoke drifts and affects others—you could be subject to enforcement actions, including fines. For domestic properties, fines can reach up to £5,000, and for businesses, up to £20,000.
Environmental Considerations
Councils recommend more environmentally friendly alternatives such as composting or using local garden waste collection services to manage garden waste more sustainably.
If you’re looking for a simpler, cleaner way to handle your garden waste in London, EWC offers a hassle-free collection and disposal service. Contact EWC for a free garden waste removal in London quote. This allows you to avoid the complications and potential fines associated with burning waste, while also contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment.
