Burnham government to review disposable barbecue ban as wildfires intensify
The government will consider restricting disposable barbecues in public spaces, marking a potential pivot from previous stances that relied on product safety rules and local council powers.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed the government will review the possibility of banning disposable barbecues in public spaces, a move prompted by a series of serious wildfires across the United Kingdom. The announcement follows an incident in July 2026 at Cannock Chase, where a disposable barbecue was identified as the cause of a fire that damaged protected wildlife habitats in the Sherbrook Valley.
The government spokesperson stated there are no current plans for a blanket ban, reiterating that ministers have previously opposed such measures. Instead, the administration emphasises its reliance on strict product safety rules for the devices and the existing powers granted to local councils to prohibit their use in high-risk areas.
However, the political landscape is shifting. The National Farmers’ Union has formally called for a ban, citing the threat to rural land and livestock. Jon Pearce, the Labour MP for High Peak, welcomed the Prime Minister’s consideration of restrictions and is working on legislation for partial bans that would exempt portable barbecues, which are removed after use. Pearce noted that last year recorded the worst wildfire activity on record and predicted this year would surpass it, urging adaptation to the changed climate.
Disposable barbecues present specific disposal challenges that exacerbate fire risks. The devices can remain hot for hours, reaching temperatures of 450C, and when buried or left in bins, they continue to smoulder and can ignite subsequent fires or harm farm animals and walkers. Research published last year indicated that more than 1,600 fires in England between 2020 and 2024 were caused by barbecues, though the data did not specify if all were disposable units.
Campaigners argue the proposed measures do not go far enough. Greenpeace political campaigner Angharad Hopkinson urged the government to address the broader climate crisis driving extreme temperatures. Hopkinson described the reliance on fossil fuels as the "fossil-fuelled elephant in the room" and called for a long-term plan to end reliance on fossil fuels to protect national security and resilience.
