Donegal County Council is urging communities not to support bonfires over the Halloween weekend, saying they can cause injuries to persons and seriously damage the environment.
The council is particularly anxious to ensure that inappropriate material is not being burned on bonfires.
In a statement, Donegal County Council says there’s been a significant reduction in the number of bonfires over recent years, and in the lead up to Halloween Night householders, businesses and communities are asked not to provide materials for bonfires.
Waste Awareness Officer Suzanne Bogan says that while traditionally wood and straw were used on bonfires, in recent times materials such as tyres, mattresses, couches, furniture, plastics, aerosols, foam, metal, painted timber and household waste have been burned on them.
This, she says, is illegal, and it is an offence to supply waste materials to parties collecting for bonfires.
She added that the council is currently monitoring a number of locations where waste materials have been supplied as bonfire material over the past number of years.
The statement says building bonfires close to houses and other property can potentially cause serious damage, and strain the resources of the Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service and Gardaí.
Statement in full –
Bonfires can cause serious damage to the environment and our health
Halloween can be a lot of fun especially for our children and young people and while we want everyone
to have an enjoyable time, it is the time of year when we ask the community to remember that bonfires
can cause serious damage and injuries both to our environment and to our health.
There has been a significant reduction in the number of bonfires over recent years as the public
recognise the importance of responsible waste management and avail of the wide range waste and
recycling services available.
In the lead up to Halloween Night Donegal County Council is asking householders, businesses and
communities not to provide materials for bonfires. Suzanne Bogan, Waste Awareness Officer with the
Council says that “while traditionally wood and straw were used on bonfires in recent times materials
such as tyres, mattresses, couches, furniture, plastics, aerosols, foam, metal, painted timber, treated
timber, household waste etc are burned on bonfires. This type of activity is illegal. It is also an offence
to supply waste materials to parties collecting for bonfires. The uncontrolled burning of these waste
types is very damaging to our health and environment as harmful dioxins are created and released into
the air that we breathe."
Bonfires can also very often be built close to houses and other property and can cause serious damage
and injuries particularly where the burning of highly combustible materials is taking place. These
incidents lead to vital resources being strained such as the National Ambulance Service, Fire Service and
Gardaí.
She added “Donegal County Council is currently monitoring a number of locations were waste materials
have been supplied as bonfire material over the past number of years”.
To protect human health and the environment, Donegal County Council is asking all businesses and
commercial outlets who deal in, or have dealt with, the sale, supply, delivery, collection or treatment of
tyres or waste tyres, for example; tyre retailers, suppliers, car dealerships, plant hire, scrap yards and
waste collectors/facilities etc; to ensure that all tyres and waste tyres are safely secured and managed
accordingly so as they do not potentially or inadvertently form part of any bonfire(s).
Contact the Emergency Services by calling 999 or 112 if you see a bonfire being lit close to buildings,
trees, overhead cables, underground services or car parking areas.
For more information on how to manage your waste correctly visit www.donegalcoco.ie and
www.mywaste.ie
ENDS
