Litter Free Dorset is redoubling its efforts calling on retailers to do the right thing and completely remove disposable barbecues from sale.

The aim is to protect Dorset's wildlife and open spaces during this hot summer due to the greatly increased risk of fire.

In the period from May 1 to July 31, 79 heathland fires were attended by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, up from 41 fires during the same period in 2021 - an increase of 93 per cent.

A spokesman for Litter Free Dorset said: "Our campaign to stop the sale of disposable barbecues is gaining momentum, with the recent announcement that Southern Co-op has stopped selling disposable barbecues completely from all its Co-operative Food convenience stores. They join Waitrose, Aldi and M&S who have already removed disposable barbecues from sale, along with other retailers who have removed them from selected stores. But we won't stop there."

The group is now directly asking all retailers to remove them from all stores in Dorset as:

Disposable barbecues can be disposed of irresponsibly which can result in wildfire, with devastating environmental, social and economic impact

Disposable barbecues are single use and non-recyclable, destined for landfill or incineration. They are unsustainable as they contain charcoal, which is often from unsustainable sources, contributing to deforestation

Disposable barbecues pose a considerable safety risk to beach users, often being left under sand of littered and causing serious injury

Litter Free Dorset has facilitated conversations with staff at head offices of large retailers leading to some success, with a number of supermarkets removing disposable barbecues. Other businesses are also choosing to remove disposable barbecues from sale.

You can find a full list of stores that have stopped selling disposable barbecues in Dorset here.

Dorset Council's disposable barbecue and campfire policy is already in place to ban disposable barbecues and the lighting of campfires at Dorset Council country parks and land that is at high risk of fire, and its website has seen a recent upsurge in support for its joint campaigns on this issue.

The spokesman added: "As we are experiencing an extremely hot, dry summer – this July was the driest in 87 years – we are asking all businesses that are still selling disposable barbecues to remove them from sale and for visitors, holidaymakers, and residents across Dorset to stop using them altogether. 

"It is important to remember that disposable barbecues are not the only thing posing a risk this summer – cigarette butts, campfires, bonfires, and open fires of any kind are equally dangerous and can cause serious harm to our heathlands and open spaces. This risk only increases with the prolonged hot and dry weather we are experiencing, so it is vital that everyone takes responsibility for this issue."

Find out more about the campaign here.