Calls have been made for £2,000 fines to be enforced on wood burners and log burners under Andy Burnham as part of ongoing consultations about improving air quality and making the popular heating products safer.
Labour is already overseeing a consultation on log burners and wood burners as part of its ongoing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which includes a raft of policies to reduce waste and cut pollution levels. Under the proposals set out in the plan, manufacturers of wood burners would be banned from selling older models unless they meet new standards, though burners already in use would not be retrospectively outlawed, while fines for non-compliance would be issued to those failing to follow the law.
Smoke Control Areas could be tightened
Smoke Control Areas, which set limits on the types of solid fuel which can be burned in log burners, fireplaces and chimneys in certain areas of England, could also be made even more strict under the proposals. Now, industry figures at Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) representing solid fuel burning manufacturers, are urging Mr Burnham to issue strict fines and stick to enforcement going forwards.
Barry Cope, CEO of HETAS, said: "A fine only works if it is enforced. A £2,000 fine is a step forward to make the playing field more level for those who follow the rules; the penalty for selling wet wood has been too cheap for too long. But a fine only deters these bad actors if it is enforced, and we know first-hand that many councils simply lack the resources to take action. Without the staff and funding to check sellers and follow up on complaints, a higher fine risks existing on paper only."
Existing rules remain in place
But he added that the consultation doesn't change the rules on Smoke Control Areas, which means that following the existing guidance is still the best way to avoid a fine.
He added: "The consultation doesn't propose changing the rules inside smoke control areas. If you live in one, you can still use your log burner – wood has to be burned in a Defra-exempt appliance, and your chimney must not emit smoke. A modern stove, dry Ready to Burn wood, and a regularly swept chimney are the simplest way to comply and avoid a fine."
The Government is consulting on measures to reduce the environmental impact of the public burning wood, such as stoves and bonfires, after it unveiled the revised EIP last December. Ministers said the consultation will aim to 'minimise the impact' of these changes on those who need to burn wood and to respect traditional festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.
PM2.5 emissions target tightened
The Government has tightened the target to cut the emissions of PM2.5 – a fine particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart conditions – by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. According to the official figures, a fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023 came from domestic combustion.
The EIP states: "The burning of solid fuels is a large contributor to national emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and is a major source of air pollution, especially in urban areas. The World Health Organisation considers PM2.5 the most harmful pollutant to human health (air pollution is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths every year.
"These particles can enter the bloodstream and internal organs, and there is a growing body of evidence linking exposure with a range of debilitating health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. We will consult on further measures to reduce emissions from domestic burning [and] consult on new measures that cut emissions from domestic combustion, whilst minimising the impact on those that need to burn and respecting traditional celebratory festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali."
It is understood that the EIP will bring the UK's PM2.5 standards in line with the EU, which was not the case under the previous EIP, published by the Conservatives in 2023.
