Newcastle City Council is asking people not to burn waste in their gardens and back yards after a rise in complaints.
The authority has received 55 complaints from residents about their neighbours burning waste since April this year. There were 20 in June alone – usually the busiest time of year when people burn garden waste.
The council wants residents to stop burning waste and instead take it to household waste and recycling centres, compost it, or use the council’s free electrical item waste collection service.
The problem usually rises at this time of the year when people burn more garden waste.
While it is legal to burn small amounts of garden waste it is illegal to burn large amounts, plastics, cables, and electrical items such as laptops.
Burning waste can lead to:
- harmful gases, grit and dust being released
- a nuisance to neighbours and harm human health
- reduced visibility and widespread pollution, for example when black smoke is produced
- contamination of land when ash containing harmful chemicals is washed into the ground
Burning waste can land you in court
It is illegal to burn most types of waste, and the council can and does prosecute for this offence.
Last month a resident was fined £120 at Newcastle Magistrates Court for burning beer cans and other rubbish in a barrel. With legal costs and a victim surcharge it ended up costing the man £348.
The council, which has a policy of prosecuting where the evidence is compelling, has pledged to carry out more prosecutions.
'There are better ways to dispose of waste'
Cabinet member for a Sustainable City, Cllr Marion Williams, who is responsible for tackling air pollution said: “There are better ways people can dispose of waste.
“Burning waste can be anti-social which is why we’ve had so many complaints. It is often against the law to burn waste and the council will prosecute in appropriate cases.
“There is no need to burn waste when there are so many safer alternatives to getting rid of it. Garden waste can be composted at home, we have three household waste recycling centres across the city and the council will collect free of charge small electrical items from householders who have booked the service online.
“We will prosecute people for burning waste when it causes a nuisance and breaks the law, which we have a duty to enforce.
“Burning waste in the open is a serious health hazard and safety concern and we ask people to be responsible when disposing of their rubbish.”
To find out more about burning waste and ensure you do not break the law see our information on: