Cleaner winter air starts with good wood and responsible waste disposal

As fireplaces are lighting up more often on these cooler days, Horizons Regional Council is reminding communities to burn only good wood this winter and to dispose of rubbish safely and legally.

Horizons environmental scientist Harold Barnett says burning green, or wet wood, using an unswept chimney, or operating your wood burner incorrectly, can emit gases and smoke that carry small particles into the air.
 
“These gases and minuscule particles can affect our health, causing irritation, worsening allergies and asthma, and even contributing to serious health conditions like heart and lung disease.
 
“On top of this, burning certain items can emit more harmful particles into the air than others,” he says.
 
“National and regional rules make it illegal to burn waste oil, rubber, vehicle components, treated or painted timber, agrichemical waste, and PVC plastics.
 
“Burning rubbish can also annoy your neighbours, preventing them from enjoying the outdoors. This is why we recommend people recycle, compost, or take waste to the transfer station, instead of burning it in their backyards.”
 
Mr Barnett says wood burners or fireplaces older than 15 years should be checked periodically by an expert to ensure they are safe.
 
“It’s also important to have your chimneys swept regularly to help keep your fire burning safely and efficiently during winter.
 
When starting your fire, use plenty of dry kindling and keep the air control open for at least 30 minutes when adding fresh logs, says Mr Barnett.
 
“Stack split, dry wood loosely in the firebox to allow air circulation, and do not overload logs before the fire gets going.
 
“By practising these tips, you’ll enjoy the warmth of the bright, swirling flames and red glowing embers of a good fire, while keeping smoke and thus your impact on air quality to a minimum.”
 
Mr Barnett says over the next few years, subject to funding approval, Horizons will conduct investigative monitoring in various towns and cities to improve its understanding of winter air quality in the region.
 
“We currently have two gazetted airsheds, those being the towns of Taumarunui and Taihape. Our monitoring in these areas provide us with insight into the local air quality, but we lack knowledge of the state of air outside of these towns.
 
“Last winter, we were able to do some spatial monitoring of particulate matter in Woodville and are about to begin surveying in Palmerston North this winter.
 
“This work will help us identify hot spots of poor air quality, if any, in areas we don’t regularly monitor,” says Mr Barnett.
 
“The data we collect will inform future decision-making on the management of air quality in the Horizons Region.”
 
Communities can check out Horizons’ existing air quality monitoring data for Taumarunui and Taihape at lawa.org.nz.
 
People can also learn more about air quality in the Horizons Region at www.horizons.govt.nz/managing-natural-resources/air.