A London council has proposed banning garden bonfires in a drive to reduce harmful pollution caused by outdoor waste burning.
The plan by Hammersmith and Fulham Council involves creating a new by-law to prevent residents from burning household or garden waste outside at commercial sites, allotments, and private gardens.
The proposed legislation would not apply to barbecues, fire pits, or indoor wood-burning stoves.
The move aims to tackle particulate air pollution, which consists of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. According to Public Health England, Hammersmith and Fulham has a higher-than-average rate of deaths linked to this type of pollution, which is associated with significant health issues such as asthma and heart disease.
The council has warned there is “no safe level” for this pollution and is concerned about the health impacts on residents.
As part of the process to implement the by-law—which could take up to six months—the council is required to hold a public consultation, and the law’s outline must be approved by the Secretary of State.
Officials will also conduct studies to analyse how domestic wood burning and outdoor fires affect local pollution levels.
Currently, local authorities can only intervene on smoke complaints that constitute a “statutory nuisance”, allowing them to order the extinguishing of fires on a case-by-case basis. However, the council has pointed out this approach limits enforcement actions to being only “reactive”, whereas the proposed by-law would offer a more effective solution.
A council report stated: “Outdoor fires and wood burning create harmful particulate matter emissions, for which it is considered there is no safe level.
“Short term exposure to high particulate matter emissions can cause asthma episodes and play a part in a multitude of other longer-term effects."
The report also highlighted potential benefits for “climate adaptation” and reducing the risk of fires getting “out of control” during warmer, drier months.
The council additionally noted that private wood-burners have contributed to the most severe smog episodes recorded in London during recent winters.
