Disposable barbecues have just been banned following UK wildfires
The UK government has ruled that all disposable barbecues are now banned following numerous wildfires raging across the country this summer.
Single-use grills, designed for instantly cooking sausages, burgers, and plant-based items in public places, first emerged in the late 1960s.
20 years later, the modern commercial disposable barbecue was mass-marketed, and now around one million are being sold in supermarkets across Britain each year, as reported by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).
While most people do dispose of them safely, the small percentage of users who fail to do so is having ‘drastic consequences for the local flora and fauna’, said Mark Hall, communications director of Business Waste.
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The expert’s warning comes amid news that a temporary ban on purchasing them is now in place.
UK government ‘temporarily bans’ disposable grills
Today (14 August), the UK government published ‘Statutory Guidelines On Disposable BBQs via gov.uk.
The notice, in response to the current droughts and heatwave conditions, stated that disposable grills pose a ‘significant risk’ to the public.
Described as the cause of ‘a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months’, officials claimed they can no longer be ‘considered a safe product’.
“[They] must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time,” advice published online stated.
It’s understood the guidelines will be ‘kept under review’ and only withdrawn in ‘consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks’.
Andy Burnham calls for retailers to drop disposable barbecues
The announcement comes days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged ‘all retailers big and small’ to suspend sales of disposable barbecues during the extreme heat.
His plea comes amid multiple fires breaking out in the West Midlands on Thursday (13 August), with a total of 54 people being treated by paramedics.
The region’s ambulance service confirmed 19 of the 54 were admitted to hospital for further care.
“The big risk in terms of risk to the wider regions across the country is the risk of wildfires. What we are seeing is multiple serious incidents across the country,” the 56-year-old said.
"Fire services, by and large, are supporting each other through mutual aid to deal with those incidents but we are keeping a very close watching brief on them.”
He continued claiming that in the ‘long term’ they will be looking into whether a temporary ban in the summer months is ‘justified’.
Burnham’s plea came after an emergency Cobra meeting to coordinate a response to dry and hot weather that has plagued the UK for a number of months.
The politician has since pledged to support fire and rescue services in the region with any additional resources they need, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker told Sky News.
Major fire incidents across Britain
11 major fire incidents have been decalred across the UK, according to Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Phil Garrigan.
“Stourbridge particularly, but Sandwell, Pershore, Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve got incidents still raging in Hampshire, in South Wales,” he said on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
“It’s been a particularly difficult, busy period for the fire and rescue service, where we’ve been under significant pressure.
“Firefighters have been on the front line of climate change for a number of years. They’re doing their absolute best to protect communities and properties.”
How to cool down in a heatwave
We’re all aware of the basics of keeping cool during the warmer weather, such as avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm, staying hydrated, wearing light clothing, taking cold showers and avoiding physical activity, but have you tried these little-known hacks to beat the heat?
Drinking milk
Thanks to the sugars, proteins and fats in milk, Dr Natasha Fernando claimed that a glass of the liquid ‘may be more hydrating than water’.
She told Metro: “Milk also contains sodium which allows your body to hold onto water for longer, aiding hydration levels.”
The Egyptian sleep method
Forget the Military Sleep method, because this hack claims to keep you cool as well as help you nod off.
Psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu, MD, told VeryWellMind: "The Egyptian sleep method involves sleeping under a damp sheet, which cools off from evaporation.”
Just make sure the sheet is damp and not drenched, and the room is well-ventilated.
Keeping windows shut during the day
While it may sound counterproductive, you’re essentially inviting the hot air inside by leaving them open. And since most houses in the UK are designed to keep the heat in, you could be making the situation a whole lot worse.
Instead, wait until temperatures have dropped (such as in the late evening) to open your windows to allow cooler air to circulate. Keeping your blinds and curtains shut can also help.
Ella Scott