Smoke and odour from businesses

It is a crime to emit dark or black smoke from commercial, trade and industrial premises. Smoke from flues, stacks or chimneys are controlled by legislation (including the Clean Air Act 1993 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990).

Commercial premises also have a duty to dispose of their waste in an appropriate manner. If you burn any type of waste on commercial, trade or industrial premises, you may be committing an offence and action may be taken against you by the Environment Agency.

If you wish to complain about burning occurring at commercial premises, please visit our report a public health nuisance webpage.