Wanted: Old, polluting wood stoves

While gathering around a fire has been a traditional means of keeping warm in the winter months for thousands of years, it’s a problem for many of our communities today. 

Wood smoke is one of the main sources of air pollution in Washington and our communities often suffer with poor air quality because of it. One of the ways Ecology is working to improve air quality is through wood stove buy-back programs. 

Smoke pollution still a problem despite improved technology

Newer wood stove technology has greatly improved and exceeded older wood stoves in efficiency and smoke reduction. For example, an old, uncertified wood stove produces about 252 pounds per year of smoke while a certified wood stove produces about 50 pounds per year. Comparatively, pellet, gas, or electric home heating makes much less smoke if any at all.

Even with improved technology standards since 1995, wood smoke is one of the main sources of air pollution in Washington. In winter, more than half of our fine particle pollution comes from wood burning devices for home heating. These tiny particles are small enough to make it past our natural defenses and lodge deep in the lung tissue where they have long lasting effects on respiratory and cardiovascular functions. As you might imagine, these pollution particles are in greatest concentration where the smoke is produced, our residential neighborhoods. 

Say “Hello” to wood stove buy-back events!

In order to improve air quality, Ecology developed incentive programs to reduce the number of uncertified wood stoves. Residents can upgrade their home heating device to a less polluting option. Old, uncertified stoves can be turned in for a cash reward, about $200.

Wood stove buy-back events are usually held in communities which have had a few seasons of elevated levels of fine particle pollution (particulate matter, PM 2.5) and received funding from the Washington Legislature. When funding is available, Ecology partners with local communities to work out event details, like location, advertising, and metal recycling.

On the day of the event, wood stoves are inspected to ensure they meet minimum standards as set in the advertising. The wood stoves must have been removed from a residence in the designated community or county of the event.

From 2012-2017, eight events resulted in 748 old wood stoves turned in by Eastern Washington residents. Those old wood stoves were destroyed and the metal recycled, removing future smoke from that stove, permanently. That translates to about three tons of wood smoke prevention per event. Eleven tons total so far! 

These programs have been well received by participants. Positive feedback has come from the public in comments such as:

“This will help with the smoke in the winter.” 

“This is awesome I hate my woodstove.”

Funding for buy-back programs

On Jan. 19, 2018, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the 2018 Supplemental Capital Budget which included $2 million in funding to Ecology to provide wood stove grants and programs.  Ecology expects to begin soliciting proposals in the late spring of 2018.

By Camille Bennett | Air Quality

We’ve come a long way baby … celebrating 50 years of the Clean Air Act

(This is the first post of a three-part series)

 

It’s an exciting year for Washington. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Washington Clean Air Act! 

Since its inception, the act has helped protect human health, the environment, and serves as the basis for state and local air pollution rules. The Washington Clean Air Act allowed the state to appoint and authorize local clean air agencies to regulate air pollution.

Before Ecology and the local clean air agencies were formed, the state was dealing with dense smoke, flying rocks and mud, and large particulate matter coming out of smokestacks from industrial facilities. Air pollution was so bad it created visibility hazards on the roads and foul odors in cities of all sizes. 

“Imagine hanging your white sheets outside to dry and coming home to find them covered in mud droplets, or your car covered in soot,” said longtime Environmental Engineer, Alan Newman. 

Industry had old inefficient boilers that would spit out harmful, black, carbon-filled smoke. Factories and other industrial facilities had limited or nonexistent emission control technology and the regulations weren’t in place to ensue clean air. 

Newman explained how sulfur dioxide was released directly into the air from agriculture dehydration facilities and how exposure to the chemicals would turn green vegetables white. Luckily, in the early 1980s industries upgraded their equipment so the chemicals were no longer released into the air.

Newman saw firsthand how air pollution was affecting our communities. He was there. It was significant enough that people throughout the entire country took notice of air quality. They grew weary of these problems and reached out to the federal government and their legislators for help.

Ironically, immense smoke from a slash burn found its way through an open window during a legislative meeting in Olympia, Washington. This dramatic event demonstrated just how serious air quality issues were and prompted the legislators to take action. As a result of citizen concerns, and their own experience with the smoke, Ecology was created in 1970.

What causes air pollution?

Air pollution is caused from a variety of sources that we all contribute to. Some of the sources are:

• Emissions from vehicles, ships, trains, and airplanes.
• Emissions from construction equipment.
• Campfires, forest fires, and agricultural burning.
• Cooking, BBQ, and wood-burning stoves.
• Solvent-based cleaning supplies.
• Blowing dust, soot, ash, etc.
• Commercial and industrial facilities like factories, restaurants, and dry cleaners.

Sending the air pollution message

Sharing the importance of healthy air is a priority Ecology and local clean air agencies have in common. The anniversary is a great opportunity to learn about why protecting our air is important. You can learn more about our state’s air quality history by visiting wacleanair50.org, participating in a local poster contest, visiting an Ecology booth at a community event, or following social media pages. 

Check back with us soon for part two of this three-part series where we’ll explain what air pollution does to the environment and your health. 

Part 2: The best solution is less pollution … 50 years of the Clean Air Act
Part 3: A breath of fresh air ...50 years of the Clean Air Act

 By Kim Allen | Air Quality

wacleanair50.org