Clean Air Act

The whole of Westminster is a smoke control area where the emission of smoke from chimneys of dwellings is prohibited. Smoke from industrial or commercial premises is carefully controlled by orders under the Clean Air Act. This means that only authorised fuels can be burned. These include:

• gas, electricity, low volatile steam coals, coke
• patent smokeless fuels such as Phurnacite, Coalite, Rexco, Taybrite and Geocite
• oil-burning appliances like paraffin stoves

There is a recent trend to open up old fireplaces to use as an open fire. It is illegal to burn wood or other unauthorised fuel on an open grate. The authorised fuels above may be used on an open grate although the council encourages residents to use cleaner alternatives wherever possible.