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: 5 January 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 5 January 2026

     'Burning waste wood on campfires and bonfires: RPS 50' has been reviewed and updated. The next review date is 31 January 2029.

  2. 28 April 2023

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

  3. 2 November 2020

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

  4. 30 October 2020

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

  5. 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.

  6. 7 December 2017

     We have extended this RPS until 31 January 2020.

  7. 27 March 2014

     First published.

Applies to England

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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 where one is required.

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.