As we head into late autumn, residents across Bath and North East Somerset are being encouraged to check that the fuels they use in open fires and stoves comply with laws that reduce the risk of air pollution from wood burning.<\/p>\n
Burning wood and other solid fuels can emit dangerous pollution inside and outside of the home, and councils can now enforce against the burning of unauthorised materials in designated smoke control areas, of which one is the city of Bath, under the\u00a0Environment Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is illegal to burn smoky fuels such as wood and coal in an open fireplace or in a non-approved wood-burning or multi-fuel stove in the\u00a0Smoke Control Area<\/a>.<\/p>\n The council can take enforcement action of a \u00a3175 fine for a first offence, increasing to \u00a3300 for each subsequent offence.<\/p>\n Residents can find the cleanest fuels to burn at home by looking for\u00a0Ready to Burn<\/a>\u00a0certification when buying products which ensures that logs, briquettes, and kindling have a moisture content of 20% or less.<\/p>\n The council has recently written to local traders to remind them about the mandatory certification needed when selling this type of product.<\/p>\n Bonfires are not included in the Environment Act legislation for wood burning; however, the council can still take action if a bonfire causes a statutory nuisance under the\u00a0Environmental Protection Act 1990<\/a>.<\/p>\n Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Sustainable B&NES, said: \u201cWe know that many residents use indoor fires and wood burners, especially as the colder months approach. While we\u2019re not telling people not to burn at all, it\u2019s important that everyone is aware of how to do so safely and legally.<\/p>\n \u201cParticulate matter can travel through the air over long distances, and burning the right fuels helps protect air quality and our health across Bath and North East Somerset, as well as in the Smoke Control Area, and ensures compliance with the law. There is no proven safe level of air pollution, and it is invisible, so the more we can collectively do to reduce emissions, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n Visit the council\u2019s\u00a0indoor fires and wood burning webpage<\/a>\u00a0for guidance on safe burning and to make sure the right products are purchased from reputable sources.<\/p>\n The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs provides a\u00a0list of exempt appliances<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Use the council\u2019s\u00a0Energy at Home\u00a0<\/a>service to enquire about financial assistance to make energy efficiency improvements to homes.<\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n