Air Quality & Warm Homes

Help us clean up the air in Tokoroa

During winter the air we are breathing in, in Tokoroa becomes so dirty that it becomes a risk to our health and wellbeing - especially for young children, elderly, and those whose health is already fragile (ie asthma sufferers).

How does the air become so dirty?

The main cause of dirty air comes mainly from home heating (fires), especially the burning of wet wood and old wood burners.

What is PM10?

PM10, put simply, are very small particles in the air, produced primarily from household fires and burners. These particles are small enough to get into your lungs and can cause serious health problems. The national environmental standard is breached when 24 hour average PM10 levels exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3) of air.

What can I do to help clean up the air?

Here are some easy ways you can help:

• Burning only dry, seasoned wood.
• Using your wood burner responsibly- cleaning your flue every year before it is used again, and- keeping your firebox clean throughout winter
• Upgrading to a clean heating appliance if you have an open fire and/or a wood burner that is non-compliant (i.e. not on the Ministry for the Environment database) For more info please check out the following link www.mfe.govt.nz/woodburners

How can Council help me upgrade to a clean heating appliance?

There are several heating schemes that Council offers. All heating schemes must have an open fire or non-compliant wood burner in the home to be removed (whether it is working or not).

To find out which scheme is right for you use our Warm Homes Scheme Selector Tool.

Click here for other FAQs.