Domestic Burning in Ipswich

Domestic Burning Project

As part of the Council's drive to improve air quality, the Council applied for a bid to Defra as part of their Air Quality grant scheme to deliver a project focusing on reducing concentrations of particulate matter. The Council were successful with their application bid and have been awarded £115,632 in funding.

In the latest studies, Ipswich is shown to have elevated levels of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), with locations in Ipswich likely to exceed any proposed legal limits under the new Environment Act 2021. Ipswich Borough Council receives a substantial number of smoke complaints every year, centred around bonfires and wood burners. During 2020, whilst ‘green waste’ collections were suspended, the council received a substantial increase in smoke complaints.

As part of the project, the Council undertook a survey in 2022 to ascertain current levels of knowledge of air pollution and behaviours regarding domestic burning within Ipswich. Responses to the survey will help influence any future educational messages and help us to gauge the overall success of the project.

Help improve air quality in your home

Open fires and wood-burning stoves have risen in popularity in recent years and may be an additional form of heating, an attractive feature or the sole heat source. Some people are unaware that use in the home increases domestic exposure to air pollutants and makes a significant contribution to our national emissions of airborne particulates. It is estimated that 38% of UK primary particulate matter emissions come from burning wood and coal in domestic open fires and solid fuel stoves. These particulates are inhaled and transported around the body where they can become lodged in the heart, brain and other organs. 

Take a look at our ‘Air Pollution and Health’ page for more information on the health impacts of air pollution. 

While we will never be able to eliminate all airborne particulates, there are simple steps that households can take to limit emissions both indoors and out that will make a big difference in terms of the efficiency of your fire and the effect on the air quality in your home. Improving air quality, both indoors and outside, will have a positive impact on the environment, your health and the health of your family. 

So, what can you do?

• Consider burning less - think about why you are lighting your fire, as well as how much fuel you use. Is it necessary? If your house is already warm enough and you don’t need to burn, not burning is the simplest way of reducing your costs and minimising airborne particulates.
• Burn dry (seasoned) wood - if you burn wet timber or unseasoned wood as a fuel, you have to boil off the water before the appliance can give out the proper level of heat. In turn, this creates a lot of smoke, tar and particulates which can damage your chimney and appliance and contributes to air pollution.
• Buy ‘Ready to Burn’ fuel - use wood marked as ‘Ready to Burn’ by a Woodsure Certified Supplier. Any wood displaying the Ready to Burn logo will have 20% or less moisture content so once you get it home it is ‘Ready to Burn’. These logs burn more efficiently than unseasoned, green wood and reduce environmental impact. You can find a local supplier by going on line and putting your postcode into the HETAS website.
• Do not burn treated waste wood (e.g. old furniture or pallets) or household rubbish - treated waste wood (with paint or preservatives) can emit harmful fumes, and household rubbish may include plastics that can release toxic pollutants, such as arsenic, into your home when burnt and may affect your health.
• Consider using an approved smokeless fuel – for manufactured solid fuels for use in domestic combustion they should conform to a test confirming sulphur content below 2% and the fuel emits less than 5g smoke per hour. A list of approved smokeless fuels is available on the HETAS website
• If you are buying a new stove - check it is Defra approved and have it installed by a qualified person, see the HETAS website for details. Use an alternative heat source/system if you can.
• Check how to operate your appliance efficiently - Always operate your stove in line with the manufacturer’s guidance. By controlling the air supply correctly etc. you will improve efficiency - this will save you money as well as reduce emissions.
• Regularly maintain and service your stove - this means it will work better and will generate more heat from what you burn.
• Get your chimney swept regularly - during use, particulates build up in the chimney reducing the efficiency and increasing the risk of chimney fires. It is better to use a qualified chimney sweep who will also be able to advise you on good burning practices for your open fire or stove. The more you use your stove the more frequently you will need to sweep.

Sticking to these simple tips will help to keep airborne particulates and smoke down and ensure optimum efficiency and safety.

There are other things you can do to improve air quality at home or further afield. Find out more at: ‘What can I do to help improve air quality’.

Regulations governing the sale of solid fuels

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have put in place the ‘Ready to Burn’ Scheme as part of the above Regulations – an initiative to help homeowners look after their wood burning equipment and improve air quality.

The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 came into effect on 1 May 2021 and state that wood sold in quantities under 2m3 by the majority of domestic fuel suppliers will be required to be certified to show that the moisture content is 20% or less and be labelled with the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo along with the name of the person who obtained the certificate and the number of the certificate issued. To view the content of the 2020 Regulations follow this link - The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020.

Small foresters (those supplying less than 600m3 of wood in a year) have been given an additional 12 months to 30th April 2022 to meet the Regulations.

Woodsure Ltd is the Defra appointed certification body who administer the Ready to Burn Scheme - there are already a number of certified wood fuel suppliers within Ipswich. Find a local supplier.

The 2020 Regulations also state that;

• Wood sold in volumes over 2m3 will need to be sold with guidance on drying and advice on the issues of burning wet wood
• Manufactured Solid Fuels will need to be certified to confirm that they have a sulphur content below 2% and do not emit more than 5g of smoke per hour from May 2021
• Bags of traditional house (bituminous) coal will no longer be available for sale from May 2021, and sales of loose coal via approved coal merchants will be phased out by May 2023

We are working with Suffolk County Council Trading Standards - the body enforcing the Regulations. Trading Standards have advised that businesses and members of the public can contact them if they require advice regarding the sale of domestic fuel and wood used for burning. Trading Standards can be contacted via their reporting website using the online enquiry form or by calling 0808 223 1133.

Clean Air Night

Ipswich Borough Council supported the first-ever Clean Air Night campaign, on 24 January 2024, to shine a light on the uncomfortable truth about wood burning.

Did you know that lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK? This type of air pollution can cause life-threatening illnesses, including heart and lung disease, making it crucial that we raise awareness about this growing issue.

Wood burning not only harms your health, but also your wallet and the planet. Pressures on household finances or desires to be more eco-friendly may tempt people to burn wood, but research actually shows that wood burning produces more CO2 than oil or gas and is almost always more expensive than other forms of heating.

This Clean Air Night, learn the truth about wood burning and help protect yourself, your family and your community by sharing what you’ve learned.
Visit the Clean Air Hub to find out more or check out #CleanAirNight.