Give feedback on this pageSmoke Control
We receive many smoke related complaints ranging from alleged smoke nuisance arising from domestic garden bonfires to the production of dark smoke from industrial / commercial sources
There are two pieces of 'smoke control' legislation which the Pollution Control Team enforce:
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Statutory nuisance provisions can be used to control excessive or frequent bonfires affecting residential areas. However, the legislation is not intended to prevent the occasional, small, traditional garden fire.
We have no bylaws in Denbighshire controlling the permitted times of domestic bonfires, as in fine weather people often wish to sit out in their gardens, or at night, sleep with their windows open.
Therefore, we advise that alternative methods of disposing of garden waste be employed wherever possible, such as composting or disposal at one of Denbighshire's Civic Amenity sites. Garden waste can also be collected from your property provided that it is placed in "white compostable sacks" purchased from Denbighshire County Council.
The following information can be obtained from Denbighshire's Customer Service Centre on 01824 706101.
Opening / closing times of civic amenity sites, type(s) of waste taken and recycling facilities available.
Cost of "white compostable sacks" and where they can be purchased from.
Compost bins - details of subsidised bins available for purchase by Denbighshire's residents.
Clean Air Act 1993
Bonfires are again the main source of complaint we receive and under this legislation it is an offence for dark smoke to be emitted from any industrial or trade premises. The penalty for being found guilty of an offence under this legislation is a fine of up to £20,000.
The disposal of waste is also regulated by the Environment Agency and generally speaking, the disposal of waste by bonfires on site is prohibited by them. We therefore strongly recommend that all industrial / trade waste is removed to a properly licensed waste disposal site.
Provisions are also available under this legislation to create 'smoke control zones', but these have not been adopted by Denbighshire County Council. Therefore, it is still permissible to have a coal fire in Denbighshire.