“Wet Wood” Woes? (NCFed’s response so far to the government phasing out of selling ‘wet wood’ and coal)

What the Government’s new Clean Air Strategy means for firewood

On 21st February 2020, the Government announced its new Clean Air Strategy for England. This covers many types
and sources of air pollution including from transport, farming, industry and, most relevant here, from the home. This
summary covers firewood only but the strategy also includes plans for other solid fuels as well as for wood-burning
stoves and smoke control areas.
Please note: air quality is a devolved issue and so this information applies to England only. The Welsh Government is
currently consulting on proposals before producing its own clean air strategy. The consultation runs until the 10th
March and can be found HERE

Background

The UK has set targets to cut emissions by 2020 and 2030 with the main goal being ‘to reduce the harm to human
health from air pollution by half.’ The Government believes that air quality is the ‘largest environmental health risk in
the UK’ and that ‘air pollution has a direct impact on the natural environment’.
Government research has shown that domestic burning of solid fuels now makes up the single largest contributor to
our national particulate matter (PM) emissions at 38% (34% from wood). PM consists of tiny particles suspended in
the air that are small enough to enter the lungs and blood and be transported around the body. Domestic burning
can produce PM2.5, the finest type of particulate matter, with particles 200 times smaller than a grain of sand. The
Government’s aim is to reduce emissions of PM2.5 against the 2005 baseline by 30% by 2020, and 46% by 2030.

A consultation was carried out from August to October 2018 to gather opinions on how the future sale of firewood
and coal should be changed and regulated. A summary of the responses received and of the Government response
can be found HERE

Following this consultation, the Government has now released its Clean Air Strategy.
Summary of main points
The main points in the Clean Air Strategy that relate to firewood are:

  • The Government plans to phase out the sale of coal and wet wood for domestic burning between 2021 and
    2023.
  • Sales of wet wood in units of under 2m3 will be restricted from sale from February 2021, though it is
    proposed that small scale producers (under 600m3/year) will have an extra year to comply.
  • It will still be possible to sell wet wood in volumes greater than 2m3 after February 2021 but only with advice on how to dry it before burning.
  • The Government will launch a ‘Burn Better. Breathe Better’ campaign to highlight the negative effects
    burning solid fuels has on health and the changes that householders can make to reduce these.
  • The Government plans to take the evidence and views submitted during the 2018 consultation to develop a
    final proposal for legislative changes.

What now?

  • The release of the Clean Air Strategy does not yet amount to new legislation, this is still being developed.
  • The Strategy does not define what “wet” wood is, though the figure of 20% moisture content was used in the
    2018 consultation.
  • It is not yet clear how the legislation will be implemented or enforced.
  • It is not yet mandatory for firewood suppliers to sign up to an assurance scheme though the Government is
    proposing to take this idea forward and indicates that the this was largely supported by respondents to the
    2018 consultation. Defra currently supports the Woodsure Ready to Burn scheme which guarantees fuel with
    a moisture content of 20% or less. More information on the scheme, including registration requirements and
    costs can be found HERE

Links

Defra Press Release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-action-to-cut-pollution-from-household-burning
Clean Air Strategy 2019: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/770715/clean-air-strategy-2019.pdf
2018 Consultation on domestic burning – summary of responses & Government response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/air-quality-using-cleaner-fuels-for-domestic-burning/outcome/summary-of-responses-and-government-response#wood-1
Defra’s Guide to Open Fires and Wood-burning stoves: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/1901291307_Ready_to_Burn_Web.pdf