You ARE allowed to burn dry wood in our log burner or open fire. You ARE also allowed to burn manufactured solid fuels. Fact: burning dry wood produces ‘more heat and less soot than wet wood and can reduce emissions by up to 50%’ [UK Government].

It’s so important to spell out the facts after recent media headlines about restrictions enforced from May 1st onwards on the sale of coal, wet wood and manufactured solid fuels for burning in the home. But the UK Government has again supported the rights of consumers to enjoy fires at home. In fact (there’s that word FACT again!), the Government says both dry wood and manufactured solid fuels [1] produce less smoke, [2] are easy to source, [3] are MORE EFFICIENT to burn, [4] number 3 makes them more cost effective – and dry wood in particular (as above)… ‘produces more heat and less soot than wet wood and can reduce emissions by up to 50%’.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow says: “Burning cleaner fuels is a more efficient option for households across England, helping reduce our exposure to this incredibly harmful pollutant and benefiting the environment. Cleaner fuels are also better for consumers as they create less smoke and soot and more heat.”

The restrictions on wet wood and household coal sales have happened due to concerns about the PM2.5 pollutant – small particles which can damage body organs by entering the bloodstream.

According to the Government, the new restrictions imposed under the Clean Air Strategy are:-

-Sales of bagged traditional house coal and wet wood in units under 2m3 are now unlawful.
-Wet wood in larger volumes must be sold with advice on how to dry it before burning.
-All manufactured solid fuels must now have a low sulphur content and only emit a small amount of smoke.
-In addition, a new certification scheme will see products certified and labelled by suppliers to ensure that they can be easily identified, and retail outlets will only able to sell fuel that is accompanied by the correct label

The UK Government has also acknowledged that it wasn’t just polluting sources such as burning wet wood to blame: “We know air pollution at a national level has reduced significantly since 2010 – with emissions of fine particulate matter down 11% and nitrogen oxide 32% – but there is still a huge amount to do to tackle pollution from all sources, including transport, agriculture, industry and domestic burning.”

If you have questions about solid fuel for domestic consumption and you live in Kent or East Sussex – ask James the Sweep for FREE advice. Phone James now on 07587 134589.