Lockdown blamed for rise in bonfires

Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) is urging residents not to light bonfires.

There has been a surge in the number of complaints made to the local authority about garden bonfires since the council was forced to close its recycling centres.

PKC is now asking residents to avoid burning waste if possible.

Like other Scottish local authorities, PKC says it followed government guidance to discourage non-essential travel and to stay at home by closing its recycling centres.

But with residents staying at home, many have turned to home improvements and created DIY waste as a result.

The recent good weather has also seen an increase in gardening leading to an increase in garden waste.

Unable to dispose of excess waste in recycling centres, some residents had resorted to burning their waste, raising concerns from other residents.

A statement from PKC said: “At this time, the use of garden bonfires to dispose of garden waste should be avoided.

“Smoke from bonfires can cause nuisance to neighbouring residents and may also adversely impact upon those with respiratory conditions.

“Please consider that some of your neighbours are in isolation, so opening their windows is the only opportunity to get fresh air.

“Alternative methods of disposing of garden waste include, composting at home (visit www. pkc.gov.uk/composting for more info), leaving your grass clippings on the lawn to break down, making leaf mould or using grass clippings as a soil mulch.

“If the waste is not suitable for any of these treatments, and you are in a brown bin area, you can purchase a garden waste permit.

“Visit our garden waste pages at www.pkc.gov. uk/gardenwaste for more information.

“Garden waste bonfires are detrimental to local air quality, may impact your health and that of your neighbours, along with adversely affecting the immediate environment smoke and odour.”