As winter draws on, more households are starting to put the fire on. There’s nothing cosier than a roaring woodfire in the hearth – but did you know this classic winter comfort could cost you hundreds?
Under current UK law, people who burn unauthorised fuel or produce smoke from their chimney in a smoke control area can face fines of up to £300. This is why it pays (literally) to know exactly what you can and can’t burn. Luckily, there are some key logos you can look out for to know whether what you’re popping on the fire will burn your wallet.
Jonny Smith, Fire Risk Assessment Specialist at Crusader Fire, said: “Many people don’t realise that what they’re burning could actually be breaking the law.
“It’s not just about smoke, burning the wrong materials releases toxic fumes that damage air quality and can trigger serious breathing problems.
“Councils are starting to enforce these rules much more strictly, especially in winter.”
In “smoke control zones” which cover most cities and towns in England, you can only burn fuels that are approved.
These include kiln-dried logs or briquettes with the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo and they can only be burned in Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) approved stoves or wood burners.
As well as this, there are five main things that are illegal to burn due to the fumes they create.
They are:
Treated wood
Painted wood
Household rubbish
Plastic
Damp wood
If you’re unsure whether you live in a smoke control area, you can check quickly by visiting your local council’s website or searching on GOV.UK.
