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Wood Smoke Reduction

Excessive smoke from wood heaters that aren't correctly installed and operated is a major contributor to air pollution
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicholai

The Wood Smoke Reduction program helps local councils manage smoke emissions from wood heaters in their area and reduce pollution. It is run by the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Wood heaters can be a convenient and economical way to heat your home. However, excessive smoke from wood heaters that aren't correctly installed and operated is a major contributor to air pollution. This pollution can be seen as a brown haze during winter. Wood smoke contains particles and other toxic gases.

Workshops train council officers 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.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Wood Smoke Reduction program for?

The Wood Smoke Reduction program is the wood smoke management training for local council officers.

What's it about?

Wood smoke from wood heaters can cause high levels of particle pollution. The program helps councils understand the pollution impacts of wood smoke and identify excessive smoke caused by wood heaters. It also provides information on what can be done to curb the problem.

How does it work?

Council officers are trained in enforcement options for dealing with excessive woodsmoke, planning measures for better management of woodheater installation and community education programs to encourage the proper use of woodheaters.

What's the timeframe for the Wood Smoke Reduction program?

Training workshops were held in 2008-2009 before the peak winter period for woodheater use.

How can I get involved?

Those of us who use wood heaters can drastically reduce harmful smoke pollution by installing and using them correctly. It saves money on fuel, too.

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Where can I get more information?

Visit the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) website to view resources for councils and other local authorities or phone the OEH Information Centre on 131 555.

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cleartheair.nsw.gov.au is a Clean Air Healthy Communities initiative, assisted by the New South Wales Government through it's Environmental Trust. Clean Air, Healthy Communities brings together a range of initiatives and partnerships to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in NSW.