NEWS RELEASES
Taking Bonfires Seriously
3rd January 2002
HOUSEHOLDERS are being given tips on how to have a safe and environmentally friendly bonfire by Horsham District Council's new pollution officer.
Bonfires can release dioxins and other toxic pollutants into the atmosphere, can aggravate respiratory and heart problems and can cause damage to nearby property or endanger animals taking shelter in garden waste.
In addition, the Council's Environmental Health Department received 100 complaints last year (2000) from neighbours over nuisance from inconsiderate and dangerous use of bonfires.
"Whilst a bonfire can be a useful means of disposing of garden waste, please spare a thought for the environment, as well as your neighbours and consider other options. If you do decide to have a bonfire, please do it safely and sensibly", says Horsham District Council's Rod Brown, newly appointed Principal Environmental Health Officer for pollution.
For those with large amounts of garden waste, Horsham District Council is keen to promote greener solutions other than burning such as recycling it into useful garden compost. The following information and contact numbers are designed to help:
* RECYCLE - the Council regularly organises sales of subsidised home composters for the garden, contact Lulu Robertson on tel: 01403 215431 for details.
* LOCAL AMENITY SITE - ring 01243 777595 to find your nearest amenity tip and dispose of waste there.
* HELP IS AT HAND - Olus Environmental (tel: 01273 494040) can help if you have too much waste to take to the tip. They will compost it for a minimal fee.
If a bonfire is the only option, the following safety hints may be helpful:
DO:
Make sure all materials will burn quickly and are dry to limit smoke.
Keep the bonfire small to restrict burning time.
Check weather conditions to ensure the smoke does not blow directly into neighbouring properties.
void burning at weekends and bank holidays when people may be out in their gardens.
Check for small animals before lighting
PLEASE DON'T:
- Burn household waste, nappies, tyres, plastics, foam or paint.
- Use petrol, engine oil or methelated spirits to ignite the fire.
- Leave a bonfire unattended.
- Light a fire when air quality is poor (more on this from www.defra.gov.uk/environment/index.htm)
- Further information about pollution issues is available from Rod Brown on tel: 01403 215426 (Email: rod.brown@horsham.gov.uk). For enquires about refuse or recycling - tel: 01403 733144.
Ends
Note to editors
There is no law specifically prohibiting people from having bonfires. Complaints about smoke and smells from bonfires are dealt with by the Council's Environmental Health Department along with noise and smells etc., as a possible statutory nuisance. For example, if bonfire smoke is drifting over a neighbour's washing or into their houses tainting items with smoke smells, it could be reasonably considered to be causing a statutory nuisance and the Environmental Health Department can act to stop it. However prevention is better than cure and therefore following the do's and don'ts above may prevent unnecessary nuisance.
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager (Tel: 01403 215549)