Commercial Burning

How we provide this service

Information about commercial burning is supported by Environmental Services, Safety & Environment.

Smoke

It is an offence for factories and trade premises to emit dark smoke from their chimneys under the Clean Air Act 1993 except in unavoidable circumstances such as on lighting up.

Dark smoke emissions from open burning (bonfires) on industrial or trade premises (including demolition sites) or agricultural land is also prohibited, except in very limited circumstances.

Dark smoke is a shade of grey defined by law.

Crop Burning

The Crop Residues (Burning) Regulations 1993 permits the burning of straw in order to dispose of broken bales and the remains of straw sacks. Contact the Environmental Health department prior to burning.

However, crop burning giving rise to dark smoke or regular burning causing a nuisance to neighbours may be classified as a statutory nuisance and lead to further investigations by this department.

What to do to get this service

If you wish to make a complaint regarding commercial burning:

• You will need to establish where the bonfire is, without this information we will be unable to investigate.
• In the case of dark smoke, if you contact this department where possible an officer will visit to witness the smoke.
• Whether or not the smoke is causing a nuisance the burning may be a breach of Environment Agency legislation, we may refer your complaint to the Environment Agency who may wish to contact you.

Your complaint is dealt with in complete confidence, but it may be obvious to the person who has made a complaint against them. If the case results in Court action your identity may have to be disclosed.

Further Information on this service

Further information is available on the Environment Agency website.

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Contact Details

If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.

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