Wood stoves as trash incinerators

An article appeared recently on several UK news sites that appeared to be based on a press release from the industry trade group HETAS. Entitled “Common mistake is biggest risk of log-burner fires, experts say,” it was meant as a public safety warning for people who burn wood during the industry’s annual Chimney Fire Safety Week awareness campaign.

And what is this “common mistake”? The article explained:

From nappies to Christmas trees, cardboard to household rubbish, new data has shown the items being burned in wood-burning stoves, with 43% of chimney sweeps and installers saying consumers using incorrect fuels is the biggest chimney fire risk.

We know that burning garbage, treated debris wood, and other waste items is not uncommon. We were surprised, however, to see the industry so openly admitting it. The article states:

Unsafe burning remains commonplace with nearly a quarter of installers saying they frequently see evidence of it.

Nearly half have encountered customers burning pallets, cardboard or packaging, and treated or painted wood in the last year. Others report the use of household rubbish, Christmas trees, furniture or kitchen cabinets and garden waste. Most concerningly, a small minority have encountered customers burning plastics and even nappies.

Of course, the sole focus of this news item was how this can affect the wood-burning households themselves. No mention was made of the people living next door and how this might affect them.

This problem is not limited to the UK. It exists wherever people burn wood.

For example, several years ago the Santa Cruz Sentinal newspaper in California reported in an article entitled “San Lorenzo Valley wood stoves burn trash, create air pollution”:

Wrapping paper, plastic and old chicken bones are just a few examples of what San Lorenzo Valley residents will burn to stay warm this winter, according to air pollution experts…

…Boulder Creek resident Kevin Foster, owner of a contracting business, said he and his employees have encountered people burning their trash on numerous occasions.

‘People burn whatever they can find,’ Foster said. ‘It smelled like if someone took the trash from under their sink and lit it. People don’t realize that smoke travels like noise in these mountains.’

It was noted in the article:

However, even burning clean, dry wood is not the most sustainable way to heat homes, as it still creates smoke.

Researchers have pointed out that adding garbage when burning wood is even more polluting and toxic than burning firewood alone, increasing emissions of particle pollution and carcinogenic compounds including PAHs.

Does your neighbor burn trash as well as wood? Tell us about it.