Burning-off, even in incinerators, is illegal in NSW except in certain cases. Under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002, open burning is under local council control.
Proper use of wood heaters reduces emissions.
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicholai
In addition, local councils have planning powers to manage or restrict the installation of domestic solid-fuel heaters. The careless operation of wood heaters and excessive smoke emissions from residential chimneys are now an offence under the Clean Air (Domestic Solid Fuel Heaters) Regulation 1997. National initiatives are underway to improve solid-fuel heater design standards.
Meanwhile emissions from domestic solid-fuel heaters are being addressed through education and replacement programs in partnership with local councils such as Wood Smoke Reduction.
As part of the program, council officers attend workshops for training in:
- enforcement options for dealing with excessive wood smoke
- planning measures for better management of wood heater installation in a local Government area
- community education programs to encourage proper use of wood heaters.
The Wood Smoke Reduction program initially ran in regional NSW from 2002-2004 in cooperation with local councils. It included a cash incentive scheme to replace older solid-fuel heaters with cleaner heating alternatives and an education program about operating woodheaters more efficiently. Excessively smoky chimneys were targeted as part of the enforcement program. The result was a 61 tonne reduction in annual fine particulate pollution in participating communities and some councils continue to use program tools for ongoing education.
The NSW Government is also developing new policies to increase the availability and use of cleaner small petrol engines such as lawn mowers, hand-held garden equipment and outboard motors.
The Local Government Air Quality Toolkit has been developed to help local councils manage domestic emissions.
Burning-off, even in incinerators, is illegal in NSW except in certain cases. Under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002, open burning is under local council control.
Proper use of wood heaters reduces emissions.
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicholai
In addition, local councils have planning powers to manage or restrict the installation of domestic solid-fuel heaters. The careless operation of wood heaters and excessive smoke emissions from residential chimneys are now an offence under the Clean Air (Domestic Solid Fuel Heaters) Regulation 1997. National initiatives are underway to improve solid-fuel heater design standards.
Meanwhile emissions from domestic solid-fuel heaters are being addressed through education and replacement programs in partnership with local councils such as Wood Smoke Reduction.
As part of the program, council officers attend workshops for training in:
- enforcement options for dealing with excessive wood smoke
- planning measures for better management of wood heater installation in a local Government area
- community education programs to encourage proper use of wood heaters.
The Wood Smoke Reduction program initially ran in regional NSW from 2002-2004 in cooperation with local councils. It included a cash incentive scheme to replace older solid-fuel heaters with cleaner heating alternatives and an education program about operating woodheaters more efficiently. Excessively smoky chimneys were targeted as part of the enforcement program. The result was a 61 tonne reduction in annual fine particulate pollution in participating communities and some councils continue to use program tools for ongoing education.
The NSW Government is also developing new policies to increase the availability and use of cleaner small petrol engines such as lawn mowers, hand-held garden equipment and outboard motors.
The Local Government Air Quality Toolkit has been developed to help local councils manage domestic emissions.