Have the definitive regulations regarding firewood?

[arboriculturist]

1 hour ago, Stubby said:

There is a difference between 20% moisture and " ready to burn "  Though .

In their eyes what do you see the difference as?

[jackpease]

I realise there's a derogation for micro suppliers for a year or two, but during the consultation there was talk of small suppliers having to get audited - like QA/QC in order to be able to use the  'ready to burn' logo

So has this been dropped? Is one allowed to sell wood without 'Ready to burn' certification - provided it is demonstrable <20%?

 

It's fine if nobody knows - but certainly early on it wasn't just <20%, not just read to burn, it required (presumably expensive) Ready to Burn audit which of course will keep the trade associations happy as the Big Boys can put the little people out of business

jack

[Stubby]

49 minutes ago, arboriculturist said:

In their eyes what do you see the difference as?

I find wood that is 25% to 28% M/C as ready to burn .

[arboriculturist]

Yes, many people who are not linked to bureaucracy know that circa. 25% MC is perfect to burn and when compared to the 'scientists' graphs, shows only a marginal difference in kWh produced compared to 20% MC.

 

After factoring in forced drying etc. to achieve the required sub 20% MC, in reality particulate emissions are no less when burning wood at 20% MC.

 

Stubby, all our noise is falling upon deaf ears, we've just got to lap it up or some make just keep their fingers crossed - it's a simplistic as that.

[Toad]

On 18/08/2020 at 18:47, Woodworks said:

Had this email a few weeks ago.

 

Dear All

 

We are writing to you given the interest you showed in Defra’s proposals to encourage the cleaner burning of domestic fuels. We would like to make you aware that the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 were laid in both Houses of Parliament on 21 July.  You can find the Regulations on legislation.gov here.  The Regulations state that they come into force on 1 May 2021.  The legislation will need to be debated in both Houses of Parliament before it comes into force and the dates for these debates are yet to be confirmed.

 

 

These Regulations introduce measures to tackle harmful emissions from domestic burning as set out in our Government Response published earlier this year.  You can find the Response at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/air-quality-using-cleaner-fuels-for-domestic-burning/outcome/summary-of-responses-and-government-response  The Regulations will phase out the supply of:

 

• traditional house coal for domestic combustion
• wet wood sold in units of up to 2m³, and
• introduce sulphur and smoke emission limits for manufactured solid fuels.

These changes will be phased in between 2021 and 2023, with all sales of small volumes of wet wood being phased out by 2022 and sales of traditional house coal by 2023.

 

We are not banning stoves or open fireplaces, and these policies do not seek to prevent their use or installation.  Our intention is to ensure people move from burning more polluting to less polluting fuels.  We are encouraging a move from burning wet wood to burning dry wood, and from traditional house coal to smokeless coal and low sulphur manufactured solid fuels.

 

We understand that those who burn coal as a primary heat source are most likely to have their coal delivered by approved coal merchants and will need additional time to switch to an alternative fuel.  This is why we are providing an extended transition period for those who burn coal.  Sales of all bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by 1 May 2021, and the sale of loose coal direct to customers via approved coal merchants by 1 May 2023.

 

The requirement for wood sold in volumes under 2m³ to be dry (less than 20% moisture) will apply from 1 May 2021.  We recognise that small wood producers may struggle to meet the requirements straight away.  Given this, small suppliers will have an extra year to comply (until 1 May 2022).

 

Thank you for your interest in this policy area and for your responses to the consultation.

Might you or anyone else know what qualifies as a small supplier? I'm tempted to do a few nets to sell through the farm shop, but don't want to get too invested if I'll only be able to sell them for one winter.

[jackpease]

>small supplier

I think that's what's odd there don't seem to be any definitions flying around, it's almost as if it is being handed to the trade associations to sort out, and guess what, they'll organise it to price out small suppliers with a huge audit fee. The one year derogation for small suppliers arguable does not make it your worthwhile getting invested

[Woodworks]

27 minutes ago, Toad said:

Might you or anyone else know what qualifies as a small supplier? I'm tempted to do a few nets to sell through the farm shop, but don't want to get too invested if I'll only be able to sell them for one winter.

I cant remember exactly just knew we definitely fell into the small supplier category. Something like under 500m3? 

[headgroundsman]

I may need to label my logs as "Not fit to burn, only use as garden ornaments"

 

[Toad]

26 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

I cant remember exactly just knew we definitely fell into the small supplier category. Something like under 500m3? 

So I should be safe with 100 nets or so a year? Thank you.

[jackpease]

Safe for one extra year only. After that no. But i think this idea is perfect! >"Not fit to burn, only use as garden ornaments"