Bonfires in Northern Ireland cost the taxpayer over £1 million each year to control, it was revealed today.
The finding came in a report and advisory leaflet published by Environment Minister Angela Smith which was prepared by Interagency Working Group on Bonfires led by the DOE Environment & Heritage Service.
The report also said over 70 per cent of the material burnt is trade waste such as wooden pallets and tyres.
The leaflet contained recommendations for public bodies on actions to improve the control of annual bonfire events and examples of good practice for bonfire builders and local communities.
Ms Smith said bonfire events had long been associated with community celebrations and festivity.
But she added: "There has been growing public concern regarding the adverse effects of bonfires. . . . Particular concerns have been the potential damage caused to health and the environment, the risks to public safety . . . smoke and fire damage to property, the illegal disposal of waste and effects on local amenity."
The minister said the new guidelines provided practical ways in which communities could have better bonfire events without causing undue risk to health, damage to property or ruin the local environment.