Fires???

[Ian Flatters]

People keep telling me that you can't have a controlled burn in certain areas. Is this true? is there a law or is it just some old wives tale. No one has then been able to give me any evidence that says you cant burn where you like?? :confused1:

 

Help?

[Paul Smith]

I am sure you can have a controlled burn and I think its an outrageous amount you can burn in a day? 10 tons seems to ring a bell

[Rupe]

You cant burn commercial waste. Farmers can't go and set fire to a load of old plastic bags to get rid of them, factories can't go out the back and burn a load of waste produce whenever they feel like, and arbs can't charge money for a job and burn the waste, you have to find a way of removign it and cost that into the job.

 

Having said that, you can burn domestic garden waste at home as long as you don't cause a nuisance. So you could twist this rule a bit and leave waste for a customer to burn themselves?

 

You can also get permits form the councils for burns where there really is no other feasable method.

[Rupe]

What are you guys referring to as a "controlled burn" Am I missing the point here?

[adbat234]

You can have a controlled burn but its nice to call your local fire service and let them know in advance as they will have to go on blue lights to your fire if someone rings it in. If the fire causes a nuisance to anyone ie. smoke blowing onto their washing, into windows etc it has to be put out by the fire service. Also the fire cant threaten any properties nearby either direct or with blowing embers. If you supervise the fire and comply with the above you are ok. Im a firefighter:thumbup1:

[Ian Flatters]

Its just a couple of clients asked me if i wanted to burn the brash on site. Its not a built up area but wasn't sure if it was ok to do that. So i removed it to my yard to burn later. Was just wondering as that means less trips in the truck and less cost with no chipper which may mean i get the job.

[Ian Flatters]

What are you guys referring to as a "controlled burn" Am I missing the point here?

 

Just tree brash. A small fire is my idea of what i plan to do, 1m by 1m ish

[Rupe]

Well legally you can't do that. You need to factor in cost of chippers etc becaue that is what proffessional tree companies do. If they give a quote based on doing it properly then so should you. Bending the rules so you get the job over another firm is off hand IMO.

[Rupe]

Maybe we should all get rid of our chippers then, I'd rather just carry a box of matches! And then we are all on a level playing feild again.

[Andy Collins]

Can I have a bonfire?

It is not illegal to have a domestic bonfire for the purpose of disposing of your own garden waste. It is a common misconception that local by-laws exist to control bonfires. They do not. There are no local by-laws or regulations affecting your right to have a bonfire. The controls provided by the law are contained in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Council can take action against people whose bonfires cause unreasonable interference with neighbours’ use and enjoyment of their gardens or pose a threat to the wider public health.

Oh, and the green waste to be burnt should be burned at its place of origin, not transported elsewhere and burned.

In general, the Council discourages garden bonfires as a means of disposing of garden waste, especially in urban areas, and encourages the use of alternative methods of disposal for garden waste. Copied from Waveney District Council.

I consulted them re: a controlled burn on a site last year, and they said to ensure that there was nothing plastic or treated in the fire, and I think its up to 10tonnes of green waste in any one day. Beware that you must not create a statutory nuisance, or break any local bye-laws. The council I contacted were surprised I even bothered to call them, very disinterested in the whole matter. A local man to me frequently burns off the outer from electric cables, has done for about 15years, had at least one stop order a year, and still does it, he earns more from "recycling" the cable than the fines cost him.

Edited January 27, 2010 by Andy Collins