The burning of wood and coal in the home is
the largest single contributor to particulate matter pollution -
identified by the World Health Organization as the most damaging
air pollutant. Particulate matter is formed of tiny particles
that can get into the body, lodging in major organs, causing
short- and long-term health problems. Domestic burning
contributes 38% of particulate matter pollution, compared to 16%
from industrial combustion and only 12% from road
transport.
The government therefore plans to ensure that,
in future, only the cleanest fuels are available for sale.
Delivering a commitment in the government’s Clean Air
Strategy, the consultation proposes preventing 8,000
tonnes of harmful particulate matter from entering the atmosphere
each year by:
- Restricting the sale of wet wood for domestic burning
- Applying sulphur standards and smoke emission limits to all
solid fuels
- Phasing out the sale of traditional house coal
At the same time, the government will ensure
only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022. Together
this will bring benefits for consumers and householders as
burning cleaner fuels and using these devices produces less
smoke, soot, and more heat.
Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey
said:
“Everyone has a role to play in improving the
air we breathe, and reducing pollution from burning at home is a
key area where we can all take action.
“While we will never be able to eliminate all
particulate matter, by switching to cleaner fuels, householders
can reduce the amount of harmful pollution to which they
unwittingly expose themselves, their families and the
environment, while still enjoying the warmth and pleasure of a
fire.”
The government’s Clean Air Strategy
- welcomed by the World
Health Organization who said it was “appreciating
actions taken by the United Kingdom government to protect its
citizens from this silent killer” - also set out proposals to
tackle air pollution from a range of other sources
including:
-
Publishing new guidance for
farmers, advisors and
contractors to help them reduce ammonia emissions and invest in
infrastructure and equipment
-
Working with international partners to
research and develop new standards for tyres and brakes to
enable us to address toxic non-exhaust emissions of micro
plastics from vehicles which can pollute air and water.
A call for evidence was
launched last
month.
This is in addition to our £3.5 billion plan
to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from road transport.
Many consumers are unaware of the impact on
their health or the environment from burning solid fuels, or
indeed which fuels are the cleanest to buy. Our recent research
suggests that over half of people surveyed did not consider that
the burning of solid fuels and wood in their home might have an
impact on their health or the environment.
The government recognises households have
installed wood-burning stoves and is not seeking to prevent their
use, or
installation, or considering
banning domestic burning, but it is keen to encourage people to
switch to cleaner fuels.
A simple way to identify clean, quality wood
fuel is to look for the Defra supported ‘Ready to Burn’
logo on fuels. Consumers can also take action by buying the most
efficient stove and regularly servicing their appliance.
The Burnright website
has lots of helpful tips on how to minimise the impact of burning
on air quality, as can your local chimney sweep during their
regular visit. Householders can also swap their supply of
traditional house coal to a cleaner alternative.
The consultation closes on 12 October.
