A waste management specialists is calling for a complete ban on disposable barbecues across the UK, warning that the single-use products continue to pose a serious threat to the environment, wildlife and public safety despite voluntary retailer restrictions.
New research by BusinessWaste.co.uk found that disposable BBQs remain readily available online in 2026, including through some of the same supermarket chains that previously pledged to remove them from shelves.
Together, two of these retailers operate more than 2,600 stores across the UK. The products are also widely available through numerous other retailers and online marketplaces.
Although no recent official sales figures exist, disposable BBQ sales in the UK were estimated at around one million units annually before major supermarkets began withdrawing them in 2022. BusinessWaste.co.uk says usage remains substantial, with hundreds of thousands of units likely ending up in landfill every year due to the products being virtually impossible to recycle.
The company warns that the environmental impact extends beyond waste. Disposable BBQs have repeatedly been linked to fires across the UK, including incidents reported recently in Hampshire and, in recent years, in West Sussex, Bristol and the Isle of Wight. Such fires can rapidly spread across grassland and heathland, causing extensive damage to ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
Designed for single use and often used for only a few hours, disposable BBQs represent a significant waste of materials. Many are abandoned in parks and beaches, buried in sand or disposed of while still hot, creating further fire hazards and risks to both wildlife and the public.
BusinessWaste.co.uk argues that affordable alternatives are already widely available. Reusable folding and portable BBQs, sold by major retailers for between £15 and £30, offer a more sustainable and cost-effective option that can be used repeatedly.
The company is now urging the government to introduce a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable BBQs and is encouraging members of the public to support its petition.
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.”