Guidance

Burning waste wood on campfires and bonfires: RPS 50

Environment Agency regulatory position on when you can burn waste wood during community events such as Guy Fawkes’ bonfires and Scout and Guide campfires.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 27 March 2014
• Last updated: 28 April 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Burning waste wood on campfires and bonfires: RPS 50

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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you burn waste wood in the open as part of a community event.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

This regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.

Published 27 March 2014
Last updated 28 April 2023 + show all updates

1. 28 April 2023

   Added section ‘Things to note’. Clarified section 'When you must check back' and extended the expiry date to 31 January 2026.

2. 2 November 2020

   Changed 'You should not burn wet wood' to 'You should avoid burning wet wood'.

3. 30 October 2020

   We have inserted the following text: 'You should not burn wet wood. Wet wood creates more smoke than dry wood.'

4. 31 January 2020

   We have clarified what wastes can be burnt. We have also clarified that waste management operators must not provide waste for burning, or carry out the burning on their premises. We have extended the review date until 31 January 2023.

5. 7 December 2017

   We have extended this RPS until 31 January 2020.

6. 27 March 2014

   First published.