Reduce wood burning to clear air

It’s the time of year when we want to feel warm and cosy in our homes. For some, this might mean putting your feet up by an open fire or wood burning stove. But did you know fumes from your fire increase pollution in the local atmosphere and could make symptoms worse for you, your family and neighbours with breathing difficulties such as asthma?

Reducing local pollution is particularly important given the impact cononavirus has on people’s ability to breathe. Nationally, household burning is the biggest contributor to particulate matter, which is linked with several heart and lung problems and can contribute to a reduction in

quality of life and premature death in people with existing conditions.

Eastleigh Borough Council is teaming up with three nearby local authorities (Southampton, Winchester and the New Forest) to give residents in the area information and advice on household burning, with the aim of cleaning up our air, thereby improving our health.

Backed with a £60,100 Air Quality Grant from the government, the campaign kicks off this winter and is funded for two years. It will ask residents to reduce the amount of burning they do, and to use cleaner fuels and more efficient appliances when they do.

Remember, you can avoid burning garden waste by using our garden waste collection service. Find out more at eastleigh.gov.uk/ gardenwaste.

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/airquality