Our wood burning research

19th October 2021

In 2021, we wrote to all English councils to ask how many fines they’d issued for wood burning over the previous five years. The answer? Just 19 fines - despite 18,600 complaints to councils over a 6 year period.

We see wood burning as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”; it’s time more was done about this.

We’re calling on the Government to: 

• Phase out the sale of new wood stoves by 2027, and ban the use of wood burners unless they are the only source of heat by 2032 at the latest.

• Label wood burning stoves as harmful to better educate consumers.

• Provide effective powers to local authorities to stop unlawful burning, with all wood burners registered with local authorities to enable enforcement.

• Launch a public health campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of wood burning stoves.

You can read the coverage of our story in:

The Times
The Guardian
Forbes
Ends Report
Euronews.green
The Express