Response to new government rules on air pollution fines
It has been widely reported in recent days, that many homeowners are facing fines of up to £300 for flouting air pollution laws. The government has instructed local authorities to issue on-the-spot penalties to those found to be breaking smoke-control rules, using powers from the 2021 Environment Act.
HETAS, the leading biomass and fuel heating organisation, is urging those with wood-burning stoves to ensure that they are burning legally-compliant, good quality wood, biomass and other solid fuels to minimise harmful particle emissions which can impact air quality and the environment.
Bruce Allen, chief executive officer of HETAS and Woodsure,comments: “As an organisation, we strive to help people make cleaner, safer choices with their solid fuels. It is reassuring to see fines being issued for unsafe fuel burning, which is a risk to the environment and individual’s health.
“When buying solid fuel, it is vital for consumers to look for the Ready to Burn logo. This ensures that the fuel is certified as having a moisture content of less than 20%.
“When burned, wetter wood leads to five times more emissions than when Ready to Burn certified fuel is used. Burning unsafe and unregulated fuels is dangerous to people’s health and the environment – and we can all do more to protect our planet. It is also important to check that your wood fuel is being stored correctly, so as not to compromise its integrity. Fuel should be kept off the ground, with ample space and ventilation to avoid rotting”.
For more information about cleaner, safer choices for solid fuel use within the home, visit hetas.co.uk or woodsure.co.uk.
Credit to: HETAS who provided the above post
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