Smoke control and bonfires

The council is responsible for controlling smoke and bonfires in Islington to improve air quality.

The whole of Islington is a Smoke Control Zone and it is an offence to burn unauthorised fuel or use an appliance that is not exempt under the Clean Air Act

Report an issue with smoke from a fire or bonfire

Fires in your home

Fires are not most cost-efficient way to heat your home (for advice visit our energy saving website). Open fires can also affect the air quality in your home.

If you use a fire in your home you must:

• burn smokeless fuel (this can be widely purchased and is labelled as ‘smokeless’)
• use specific types of wood burning stoves or furnaces

The Defra website has a list of authorised fuels and appliances that are exempt.

Bonfires

Garden bonfires add to pollution and poor air quality and can make health problems (e.g. asthma and bronchitis) worse. They can also be a nuisance to neighbours.

Instead, dispose of your garden and kitchen waste in a responsible way by composting or using our garden waste collection service.

To report issues with bonfires during office hours you can also call our residential environmental health team on 020 7527 3083.