
The environmental cost of Northern Ireland's bonfires
Beyond their political symbolism, the environmental toll of these bonfires is immense, and growing. Beneath the flickering flames lies a deeper, smouldering issue: air pollution, toxic emissions, and damage to land and water. In the face of climate change and public health challenges, questions are being raised, not just about what these bonfires stand for, but what they're doing to the environment we all share.
An Eleventh Night bonfire in Orangefield Park in east Belfast. Some of the largest structures stand more than 30 feet tall and are constructed from tens of thousands of wooden pallets, along with tyres, plastics, furniture, and household waste. These materials, when set alight, release a potent and dangerous cocktail of pollutants into the air.
Smoke signals
While often described by organisers as cultural or community events, the scale of Eleventh Night bonfires reveals a more troubling picture. Some of the largest structures stand more than 30 feet tall and are constructed from tens of thousands of wooden pallets, along with tyres, plastics, furniture, and household waste. These materials, when set alight, release a potent and dangerous cocktail of pollutants into the air.
Among the most harmful are particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). These are microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Levels of these particles can spike dramatically during bonfire night, with air quality monitors in Belfast and Derry recording pollution levels comparable to those in industrial cities during smog events. For those with asthma, or heart conditions, the health risks are immediate and severe.
The burn-off also includes dioxins, benzene, carbon monoxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), many of which are carcinogenic. These chemicals don't just disappear with the smoke; they settle in soil, seep into waterways, and linger in the air. The environmental impact, though less visible than the flames, is far more enduring.
Tyres, plastics, and the law
Despite regulations prohibiting the burning of tyres and many synthetic materials, such items continue to be a staple of many bonfires. Tyres, in particular, are a serious environmental hazard. When combusted, they emit heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and fine particulates that are hazardous to both human and ecological health.
In theory, burning such materials is illegal under Northern Ireland's environmental laws. In practice, enforcement is weak. Councils often fund clean-ups after bonfires, some of which are built on public land, but rarely intervene in the build-up or construction stages. This tacit tolerance fuels a cycle of impunity, with local authorities caught between environmental responsibility and political sensitivities.
Land and water contamination
Once the flames die down, scorched plots of land are left behind, often heavily contaminated. Rainfall following bonfires can wash ash, chemicals, and microplastics into local rivers, drains, and soil. This runoff threatens aquatic life, degrades biodiversity, and risks entering drinking water systems.
Firefighters work to protect an electricity sub station as a Controversial bonfire at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road in Belfast is lit. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
In some cases, bonfires have been built close to schools, housing estates, and even gas tanks, raising concerns not only about pollution but about public safety. The cost of restoring damaged land, including removing burnt debris and remediating soil, falls largely on local councils, and by extension, the taxpayer. In 2022 alone, Belfast City Council reportedly spent more than £100,000 on bonfire-related clean-up and security measures.
Cultural tradition or environmental risk?
For those who build and attend them, Eleventh Night bonfires are seen as expressions of unionist history and identity. But for others, the bonfires represent an outdated and dangerous tradition.
It's worth noting that not all bonfires are equal. Some communities have made efforts in recent years to build safer, more environmentally responsible structures, using only untreated wood, excluding tyres and plastic, and even incorporating LED-light 'beacon' bonfires as symbolic alternatives. These initiatives show that cultural expression does not have to come at the cost of environmental degradation, but such examples remain the exception.
The political nature of the bonfires, combined with the fear of stoking tensions, has made open criticism difficult. Yet, in an era of climate emergency, the question must be asked, how long can we continue to burn tens of thousands of tonnes of waste each year, unchecked, in the name of tradition?
Environmental justice
There is also a broader environmental justice issue at play. The most toxic bonfires are often located in working-class areas, those same communities already disproportionately affected by air pollution, limited access to green space, and poor health outcomes. This means the people most exposed to the environmental fallout of bonfires are often the least resourced to deal with its consequences.
In this context, rethinking bonfire culture isn't simply an environment matter — it's about equity. If councils, environmental agencies, and community leaders work together, it may be possible to chart a different course.
Lighting a better path
As the flames fade and the ash settles, we are left with a choice. We can continue to allow toxic bonfires to blaze unchecked, or we can begin the difficult, necessary conversation about changing the way we mark this time of year. Cultural traditions evolve. They always have. The question is whether we have the courage, and the foresight, to evolve with them.
Until then, Northern Ireland's skies will keep filling with smoke each July, but so too will its rivers, its soil, and its lungs.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Suspect vehicle in fatal Lincoln, Ont., hit-and-run found burning in Mississauga: police
The suspect vehicle in a fatal hit-and-run that killed an 82-year-old man in Lincoln, Ont., last week was found burning in Mississauga, police said Friday. Police are now searching for a 50-year-old man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder, police said. On July 17 around 9:45 a.m., Larry Pearce, 82, was struck by a man attempting to steal his vehicle and exit the parking lot of Charles Daly Park in the Town of Lincoln, just west of St. Catherines, Niagara Regional Police Service said in a release last week. Pearce had been driving out of the parking lot when he was stopped by the man, police said. The two had an interaction and Pearce got out of his vehicle, a grey Honda CRV, before the man jumped in and attempted to drive off, police said. Pearce tried to stop the man but he was struck by the vehicle and fell to the ground, police said. He was rushed to hospital where he later died. Niagara police later identified the suspect as a 50-year-old man of no fixed address. As recently as Tuesday, police said they believed the suspect was still operating the victim's vehicle after he was spotted with his dog, a pit bull-style breed with white fur and black and brown markings, in Mississauga. On Thursday, Peel Regional Police said in a release that officers discovered the victim's stolen vehicle on fire in the area of 1875 North Sheridan Way in Mississauga. Investigators determined the vehicle had been driven into the green space off Springbank Road at approximately 8:20 p.m. Thursday, before it was intentionally set on fire, police said. "A lone individual was seen walking away from the area shortly thereafter," Peel police said in the release. Police have not yet located the suspect. Police are appealing to people in the area of North Sheridan Way, Springbank Road, and Sevenoaks Drive in Mississauga, who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 8:10 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. on July 24, to contact investigators. Anyone in the area who may have relevant surveillance or dashcam video is also asked to come forward. Investigators do not believe the suspect is still with his dog, police said. Earlier this week, Niagara police warned the public not to approach the suspect if they identify him, but to call 911.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG (CIG)Launches $6.3B Modernization Plan
We recently compiled a list of Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG stands tenth on our list. Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) is one of Brazil's largest integrated energy utilities, playing a crucial role in the country's power generation, transmission, and distribution. Recently, the company launched its most ambitious investment program to date, committing BRL 6.3 billion in 2025 toward modernizing its infrastructure and accelerating Brazil's energy transition. These efforts include upgrading to smart meters, enhancing grid resilience, and adopting advanced systems like SAP S4/HANA and ADMS to improve efficiency and service reliability. In line with global sustainability goals, Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) is expanding into renewable energy, with its first solar plants set to launch in July 2025. These investments also support the agribusiness sector, a key part of the company's economy. As part of its operational overhaul, the business is restructuring with six new regional management units to improve local responsiveness and customer service. A vibrant skyline illuminated by the lights of the electric utility company. A key highlight of Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG (NYSE:CIG)'s strategy is its push for digital transformation and smart grid integration. The deployment of digital tools and real-time management systems aims to future-proof its operations, accommodate growing renewable capacity, and provide more agile and transparent services across the energy value chain. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why did the Orioles and Rockies keep playing after fans evacuated seats?
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies played through rain for about two innings Friday night even after fans were told to evacuate open areas of the seating bowl because of potential lightning in the area. It made for an unusual stretch of baseball at Camden Yards, with fans taking shelter for their own safety but players still on the field. The reason was that those two decisions are made by different people. The Orioles decided to clear fans from their seats, but the umpiring crew determines whether the game should continue. 'They did clear the stands unbeknownst to me,' crew chief Bill Miller said after Colorado's 6-5 win. "We are concerned about lightning, but the crew did not see any lightning in the area. We saw it from afar, but we didn't think at any time anybody on the field was in danger.' Fans were told to move around the start of the sixth inning, and it did indeed rain. Many spectators were still able to watch the game from sheltered seats with a view of the field. They were told they could go back to their original seats around the end of the seventh. The game was never delayed. 'I trust the fact that the umpires have our health and safety in their best judgment, and I applaud the Orioles for kind of clearing out the lower bowl and kind of mitigating any risk whatsoever, making sure that the fans were in a safe spot,' Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino said. Miller said he was receiving weather reports. 'I was getting updates every half-inning from the grounds crew gentleman. He said that we were going to get hit by a big storm in a half an hour. He said at 8:45 it was going to come. It was going to be windy, it was going to be rainy and there was going to be thunder and lightning,' Miller said. 'I asked him to give me a half-inning update, and it progressively diminished. The storm was decidedly moving south. He thought the top of it was going to catch us.' ___ AP MLB: