Q1. What is a Smoke Control Area?
Q2. If my house is in a Smoke Control Area, how will I be
affected?
Q3. How can I find out if my house is in a Smoke Control
Area?
Q4. What are authorised fuels?
Q5. Am I committing an offence by buying fuel that is not
authorised?
Q6. Where can I find out if my fireplace is exempt?
Q7. Is there any funding available to help me change my
fireplace?
Q8. Does living in a Smoke Control Area prevent me from
burning garden rubbish?
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A1
A Smoke Control Area is an area, established by a local authority, in which smoke must not be discharged from domestic chimneys.
A2
You must ensure that no smoke escapes from your chimneys, otherwise you will be liable to prosecution. You will have to burn one of the authorised solid smokeless fuels on your solid fuel fire or change to gas, electricity or oil.
There are woodstoves which have been authorised for use in a Smoke Control Area. For details of products which are authorised please contact the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme or the Solid Fuels Association.
A3
Basically, the whole of Glasgow is a Smoke Control Area. For further details on individual properties please phone or e-mail us, see details above.
A4
Authorised fuels are products like gas, electricity, anthracite, low volatile steam coals and most of the commercial smokeless fuels. For a current list of approved solid fuel products and services please contact the Solid Fuel Association:
Phone: 0845 6014406
A5
Yes. Section 9 of the Clean Air Act makes it an offence to acquire any solid fuel other than an authorised fuel for use in a domestic fireplace in a smoke control area, other than an exempted fireplace.
A6
For a current list of exempted fireplaces please contact the Solid Fuel Association:
Phone: 0845 6014406
A7
No. Initially, grants were available to enable people to change their fireplaces, but these finished when all of the control areas were declared.
A8
It is permissible to burn garden rubbish, but you should not cause a nuisance to your neighbours. However, the Council would encourage everybody to dispose of their garden rubbish in a sustainable way.
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For details of how you can dispose of garden rubbish please contact the Council's Waste Management Section:
Phone: 0141 287 9700.
If you require further information or advice on air quality and smoke control then please contact us:
Phone: 0845 270 1558
E-mail: public.health@eps.glasgow.gov.uk
There are many Web sites providing information about air quality. Some of them are listed below.
Scottish Executive Air Quality pages
DEFRA Air Quality pages
SEPA
NSCA
UK National Air Quality Information Archive