Major grocery stores have taken disposable barbecues off their shelves due to concerns about an increased risk of wildfires. Asda joined the ranks of retailers removing single-use grills on Tuesday amidst ongoing dry and hot weather in parts of the UK. Recent days have seen firefighters battling significant fires in locations such as Dunwich, Suffolk, and the Rhondda Valley in Wales. Co-op and Tesco halted sales of disposable BBQs in July, while Sainsbury’s will follow suit until August 12. Wilko and The Range are also removing these items from stores and online. Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, and M&S have not sold disposable grills since 2022.
Retailers pausing sales are following voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) until next Wednesday, as parts of the country endure a prolonged heatwave. Jon Pearce, the Labour MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, recently urged major chains to stop selling single-use grills for the remainder of the summer. He praised the decision by large retailers and called for smaller businesses to do the same, emphasizing the need for government action to address climate change. Pearce advocated for making NFCC guidance on disposable BBQs mandatory and stressed the importance of planning for future summers.
Pearce also pressed for a ban on disposable BBQs in public spaces, urging the government to take proactive measures ahead of next summer. Fire chiefs have warned of the increasing pressure on services due to wildfires, with over 700 incidents responded to in England and Wales this year. The NFCC advised against using disposable BBQs in open countryside, parks, and moorland areas to minimize the risk of fires. Co-op and Tesco spokespeople highlighted their commitment to responsible retailing and compliance with NFCC guidelines in temporarily removing disposable BBQs from sale due to the current weather conditions.