Government takes action to cut pollution from household burning
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Sales of house coal and wet wood in England will be phased out from
next year to cut pollution Bold action builds on new legislation on
air pollution as part of our landmark Environment Bill Plans
to phase out the sale of coal and wet wood for domestic burning and
encourage the use of cleaner fuels in the home have been confirmed
by the government today (21 February). Wood burning stoves
and coal fires are the single largest source of...Request free trial
Plans to phase out the sale of coal and wet wood for
domestic burning and encourage the use of cleaner fuels in the
home have been confirmed by the government today (21
February).
Wood burning stoves and coal fires are the single largest
source of the pollutant ‘PM2.5’, emitting twice the contribution
of industrial combustion and three times the contribution of road
transport. This form of pollution consists of tiny particles
which penetrate deeply into our body, including lungs and blood,
and has been identified by the World Health Organisation as the
most serious air pollutant for human health.
To help improve the air we breathe and ensure
householders choose cleaner fuels, sales of coal and wet wood –
the two most polluting fuels – will be phased out between 2021
and 2023, giving the public and suppliers time to move to cleaner
alternatives such as dry wood and manufactured solid
fuels.
These not only produce less smoke and pollution than wet
wood or coals, but are also cheaper and more efficient to
burn.
Today’s announcement builds on measures in the
Environment Bill which will make it easier for local authorities
to tackle air pollution in their areas, as well as the
government’s £3.5 billion plan to reduce harmful emissions from
transport, and efforts to reduce emissions from
industry.
Environment Secretary George Eustice, said:
“Cosy open fires and wood-burning stoves are at the heart
of many homes up and down the country, but the use of certain
fuels means that they are also the biggest source of the most
harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK. By moving
towards the use of cleaner fuels such as dry wood we can all play
a part in improving the health of millions of
people.
“This is the latest step in delivering on the challenge
we set ourselves in our world-leading Clean Air Strategy. We will
continue to be ambitious and innovative in tackling air pollution
from all sources as we work towards our goal to halve the harm to
human health from air pollution by 2030.”
Sales of all bagged traditional house coal will be phased
out by February 2021, and the sale of loose coal direct to
customers via approved coal merchants by February 2023. This will
give industry, suppliers and households the time to adapt to the
new rules.
Similarly, sales of wet wood in units of under 2m3 will
be restricted from sale from February 2021, allowing for existing
stocks to be used up. Wet wood sold in volumes greater than 2m3
will need to be sold with advice on how to dry it before burning
from this date.
In line with feedback from the vast majority of
respondents to the consultation, we will also be placing a
limitation on the use of manufactured solid fuels for domestic
combustion. Manufacturers of such fuels will need evidence that
they have a very low sulphur content and only emit a small amount
of smoke, with all manufactured solid fuels needing to be
labelled as compliant.
Professor Stephen Holgate, Royal College of Physicians’
special adviser on air quality said:
“We know that air pollution causes significant health
issues across the life course. It is key that the Government does
everything it can to improve the air we all breathe. Today’s
announcement on domestic burning is a welcome step forward, and
will in time, play a role in reducing the pollution associated
with PM2.5.
“Inhaling combustion particles from any source is harmful, but more so than ever when it’s directly within your home.
“Burning coal for heat and power has to stop and strong
guidance is needed to insist that if wood is burnt in approved
stoves, it is non-contaminated and dry.”
John Maingay, Director of Policy and Influencing at the
British Heart Foundation, said:
“Wood and coal burning accounts for 40 per cent of harmful levels of background PM2.5 in the UK, and our research has shown that toxic PM 2.5 can enter the bloodstream and damage our heart and circulatory system.
“Phasing out sales of coal and wet wood is a vital first
step towards protecting the nation’s health from toxic air. This
is a welcome move from a Government showing its ambition and
commitment to tackling air pollution.
“However, we must not stop there. Air pollution is a major public health challenge, and it requires an urgent and bold response.”
To further promote actions everyone can take to reduce
the damaging effect of domestic burning, the Government will also
launch a ‘Burn Better. Breathe Better’ campaign to highlight the
negative effects burning solid fuels has on health and the small
changes that householders can make.
Through our ground-breaking Environment Bill, we have committed
to setting an ambitious, legally-binding target to reduce fine
particulate matter and are ensuring that local authorities have a
clear framework for tackling air pollution – including making it
easier for them to enforce of smoke control areas.
Our Clean
Air Strategy, which has been praised by the World
Health Organisation as “an example for the rest of the world to
follow”, commits to further measures to tackle a range of
pollutants including PM2.5, ammonia, and sulphur dioxide from all
sources, and we are working with local authorities across the
country to help them target the pollution affecting their
communities.
These measures come after statistics released last week
showed the significant progress that the government has made in
tackling air pollution, with nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide,
particulate matter, and non-methane volatile organic compounds
all down significantly since 2010. However, the statistics also
highlighted the impact of the increased popularity of domestic
burning on PM2.5 pollution, emphasising the importance of the
measures that the government is introducing today.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Multiple studies have shown that long term exposure to
PM2.5 can cause:
These effects are amplified in vulnerable groups such as
young children and the elderly.
These regulations will apply in England only.
The full Government response to the consultation will be
available on gov.uk on Friday 21 February.
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