‘Only burn clean wood on bonfires’, says EA

In a Regulatory Position Statement (RPS50)  issued today (31 January) the Agency gives advice for the burning of waste at events such as on bonfire night (5 November) and at other events such as Scout and Guide campfires.

The Agency warns that “Uncontrolled and excessive burning of the wrong wastes can cause pollution and harm human health. If you follow the conditions in this RPS you can burn waste at traditional events such as Guy Fawkes’ bonfires and Scout and Guide campfires without an environmental permit for a waste operation.”

Rules

Event organisers are told that they must comply with the following conditions:

• only burn waste at traditional events such as Guy Fawkes’ bonfires and Scout and Guide campfires;
•  keep the waste secure before you burn it;
• only burn waste that is suitable for burning, for example wood that is visibly clean and has not been painted or treated with preservatives
• branches and leaves;
• only use card and paper in quantities necessary to start the fire;
• make sure the size of the bonfire or campfire is appropriate for the event

Event organisers must not, says the Regulatory Position Statement:

• burn unsuitable wastes such as plastic, rubber, glass, oils or metal – burning these wastes is likely to produce dark smoke and harmful chemicals;
• get the waste for burning from a waste management facility;
• hold the bonfire or campfire at a waste management facility.

Organisers are also reminded that the burning must not cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals, cause a nuisance through noise or odours and adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

Demolition wood

Within the wider waste wood recycling sector, research is underway with regard to demolition wood. Earlier this month the Wood Recyclers’ Association, which has secured concessions from the Environment Agency over delays to the possible classification of some waste wood as hazardous, appealed for more help from the construction industry.

On January 8 letsrecycle.com reported: “The Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA) has warned of a “potential crisis” – which could cost the demolition sector more than £100 million a year – if more waste wood samples are not submitted for hazardous testing.

“The trade body is now making an urgent appeal for waste wood samples from the demolition of buildings built before 2007 to be submitted for testing, as part of the Hazardous Wood Classification Project.” (see letsrecycle.com story.)