Ban disposable BBQs, waste boss urges

In 2022, several supermarkets vowed to remove disposable BBQs from sale. But many retailers continue to sell them. They cause fires across the UK, harm the environment, and hundreds of thousands go to landfill every year.

Now, waste management experts BusinessWaste.co.uk are calling for a total ban in order to protect our environment and reduce waste.

The company’s research found that in 2026, customers can still buy the product easily online through some of the same supermarkets that vowed to remove it from stores, two of which have a combined 2,600 stores across the UK.

Many other retailers still stock disposable BBQs in store, and they’re easy to buy from online marketplaces.

There are no up-to-date published figures on the sales of disposable BBQs in the UK. But before major supermarket withdrawals in 2022, the number was around 1m units per year. Current usage remains high, and with the product impossible to recycle, it’s likely hundreds of thousands are heading to landfill annually.

Why are disposable BBQs so bad for the environment?

Every year in the UK, there are many reports of disposable BBQs starting fires. These can turn into large-scale grassland and heath fires and cause long-term habitat loss.

Designed to be single-use and often only alight for 2 hours, the product is a huge waste of materials and extremely difficult to recycle. As a result, disposable BBQs more often than not end up in landfill, if they aren’t abandoned or littered first.

It’s not uncommon for users to leave hot disposable BBQs in public places, bury them in sand, or throw them into bins. This creates a further fire risk, contaminates green spaces and causes direct harm to animals.

Many people pick disposable BBQs due to cost and convenience. But there are plenty of reusable options on the market which still satisfy these needs.

For between £15 and £30, many retailers like IKEA and Argos sell folding and portable BBQs. They’re lightweight, designed for transport and can be used hundreds of times. These are much more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective over time.

You can sign the petition for a total ban on disposable BBQs here.

Mark Hall, waste management expert and director at BusinessWaste.co.uk, comments:

We have been campaigning against the use and sale of disposable BBQs for years. The product is extremely wasteful and damaging to our local environment. Every year, we continue to see news reports of the damage done by the use of disposable products and boycotts have proved to be fleeting.

In 2026, we really need to see an all-out ban put in place. There is no reason for these products to remain on sale when much more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives are available.

A ban would protect our green spaces, local wildlife and stop hundreds of thousands of disposable BBQs clogging our landfills. We would encourage the public to support this by signing the petition, sharing with friends and writing to local MPs.

Featured image via the Canary