Garden Incinerator

[derekpara]

I've bought a dustbin sized metal incinerator with the intention of burning a large amount of paper containing confidential information. Is it legal to do this now ?

I live in an outer London Borough.

[New Judge]

Your borough may have bye-laws preventing bonfires but most don't (best check on their website). In most areas no action is normally taken unless bonfires are frequent and cause a nuisance. Then action can be taken under the Environmental Protection Act. If the bonfire is a 'one off' it is unlikely any formal action will be taken, but an advisory letter is sometimes sent if complaints are received.

[Hopkirk]

Why not just buy a shredder?

[Old_Geezer]

Then you can burn the shreds.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably quicker and less frustrating to sling a folder's worth of A4 sheets into the flames than feed them into a continually jamming shredder a few pages at a time.

[Hopkirk]

Yes OG, now I notice the words 'large amount' and remembering my battles with a shredder, a good old fire sounds more fun.
One trouble though could be that sometimes when paper is burned, flaming or smouldering pieces get airborne and can land on neighbours roofs or sheds. Oops.

[Baldric]

Used a X-cut shredder for years, never had a problem with it, jamming or otherwise, some folks just look for problems.

[derekpara]

Thanks for all your answers.

I do have an office shredder which only takes about three sheets at a time without undue strain, and the 'large amount' of paper to which I refer is about 3,000 sheets of A4, so I'd prefer the quicker option !

I haven't checked the Borough's policy on garden fires yet.

Thanks again.

D

[Negomi]

It will be Bonfire Night soon, fireworks probably start a fortnight before, surely no one will complain if you have a burn-up around that time

[derekpara]

BA to Negomi.

Great solution. I'll have the grandchildren here and treat myself to a few bangers and sparklers.

Thanks.

D

[diddlydo]

I'd say burn away to your heart's content - too many people are so namby-pamby these days when it comes to bonfires.