Wood burning stoves ‘ban’ update as government issues new response | UK | News

An update has been given by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the potential ban on some types of wood stoves. This week it was announced that rules on wood stoves could be tightened in a bid to reduce smoke emissions, as part of the Government’s updated environmental plan.

New stoves will need to be replaced once the regulations come in, but existing wood stoves will not be affected. In a new parliamentary question, Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy asked Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, “whether she plans to impose further restrictions on home wood burning in urban areas with poor air quality.”

In response, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Emma Hardy said this week that the government was concerned about pollution caused by wood burners and announced new regulations were coming: “Wood burning is a significant source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), particularly in urban areas. The Government is currently considering options to reduce the impact of burning wood in homes on people’s health and will consult on measures to reduce emissions from this source.”

Unveiling its revised environmental improvement plan (EIP) on Monday, the government said it would consult on measures to reduce the environmental impact of wood burned by the public, such as stoves and bonfires. Under the proposals, manufacturers of stoves that use “solid fuel” could have to phase out or replace older models to ensure they meet the new standards.

Pollution limits may also be tightened in smoke control zones, where the country has restrictions on what fuels can be burned in fireplaces or stoves.

Ministers said the consultation would seek to minimize the impact of these changes on those who need to burn wood and respect traditional celebratory festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.

It comes as part of measures proposed to tackle air pollution in the updated EIP, where the last government plan has been replaced with a set of new environmental targets.

The government has tightened its target to reduce concentrations of PM2.5, a fine particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart disease, by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.

According to official figures, one fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023 came from domestic combustion. It is understood that the EIP will bring the UK’s PM2.5 standards into line with the EU, whereas the situation was different in the previous EIP published by the Conservatives in 2023.

Many parts of the UK are smoke control zones, including:

• You can’t take smoke out of the chimney.
• You can only burn authorized fuel unless you use a Defra approved device (also known as an “exempt device” or “Defra approved device”).

In the UK, you may have to pay a fine of up to £300 if smoke comes out of your chimney in a smoke control area.

If you buy unauthorized fuel for use in a device that is not approved by Defra, you could be fined up to £1,000.

What can you burn in smoke control areas?

Only place fuel in the smoke control area. list of permitted fuelsAny of the following ‘smokeless’ fuels unless you use a Defra approved device:

• anthracite
• half anthracite
• gas
• low volatile steam coal

Devices that can burn unauthorized fuels are exempt

Non-permitted fuels such as wood are only Exempt appliances such as certain boilers, ranges and stoves.

You should only use fuel types that the manufacturer says can be used in the device.

Outdoor ovens, burners and barbecues

You can use outdoor barbecues, chimineas, fireplaces or pizza ovens in smoke control areas.

If your appliance uses a chimney on the roof of a building (e.g. a summer house), you can only burn permitted fuel unless it is an exempt appliance.

garden bonfires

Garden bonfires are allowed in smoke control areas, but you must follow the rules. rules about bonfires.