Any one successfully reported neighbours wood burner?

Soconfused14

I posted a while back about issues I was having with my neighbours wood burner.
In short, it kicks out black noxious smoke preventing me using my garden/washing line or opening my windows.
I have spoken to them and all I got was "well no one else has said anything."
Things continue as before.
Is there any point reporting this to the council?
Will anything actually come of it?
Has anyone else successfully reported their neighbour?

ThisIsWeird

Don't know anyone who has done this, but - yes - it's worth pursuing.

Wood burners should not produce black smoke unless they aren't being used correctly, or incorrect fuels are being used. I can well imagine a slow-burning coal fire doing this, for example.

Evidence evidence evidence. Photos, witnesses, and a full log of all occasions.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: Wood burners should not produce black smoke unless they aren't being used correctly, or incorrect fuels are being used. I can well imagine a slow-burning coal fire doing this, for example.

Even when I use my stove incorrectly, it is white smoke coming out of the chimney. To get thick black smoke, I'd need to burn plastics and other rubbish.

Soconfused14

As I explained in my previous post, I believe he is burning wet wood. Its not thick but its black and it stinks .
I am wanting to know what is the likely outcome if I report. I have read they will just get a letter telling them a complaint has been made but then what?
I dont want to create a bigger mess by reporting them if its unlikely to stop them.

CliveOfIndia

Soconfused14 said:

As I explained in my previous post, I believe he is burning wet wood. Its not thick but its black and it stinks .

Wet wood tends to produce a lot of white/grey smoke, not black, and it shouldn't smell offensive.  Sounds like he's burning plastic/rubber/something a bit noxious (or possibly wood that's been treated with preservative of some type).  If that's the case, your local council's environmental health department would be interested, I'm sure.

ic

White smoke: pope; black smoke: nope.

Check the map here: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/sca/

Read the info here: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat07/1901291328_Smoke_Control_Web.pdf
[quote]What is a smoke control area? A smoke control area is a legally defined area where you cannot emit a substantial amount of smoke from a chimney.[/quote]

If you're in a smoke control area - talk to your council.  A local site to me was burning rubbish rather than take it away to be disposed of.  I reported it and they came out the same day and stopped them.

Soconfused14

CliveOfIndia said:

Soconfused14 said:

As I explained in my previous post, I believe he is burning wet wood. Its not thick but its black and it stinks .

Wet wood tends to produce a lot of white/grey smoke, not black, and it shouldn't smell offensive.  Sounds like he's burning plastic/rubber/something a bit noxious (or possibly wood that's been treated with preservative of some type).  If that's the case, your local council's environmental health department would be interested, I'm sure.

We do occasionally get white smoke too, but thats just very strong smell of wood, still not nice.
I believe he is burning anything he can get his hands on, from when he did his extension.

ThisIsWeird

Did I mention you need evidence? Photos of the emissions, and witnesses to the smell. 

Are you familiar with the smell of burning plastics? Roof felt? Can you describe it, other than 'noxious'?

If it's reported, and EH tell them to stop, then they'd better stop. If you can demonstrate they are burning prohibited materials such as plastics and bitumen - eg with witnesses - then that is a criminal offence. They might not be able or willing to take it further, at least not without proper evidence, but it would be a different order of seriousness. 

TELLIT01

Video evidence may be more informative.  A photo obviously only shows a moment in time and the smoke may be clear after. Once you have the evidence speak to your local council.

melb

my neighbour burns pallets, wood from skips. anything she can get her hands on basically and we are in a clean air zone.  Is this allowed?  There is no smoke visible from the chimney but it smells awful

FreeBear

melb said: my neighbour burns pallets, wood from skips. anything she can get her hands on basically

Some pallet wood can be treated, others may well have paint on them. Scraps of wood from a skip could be anything - Chipboard, MDF, constructional timber - The latter could well be treated with preservatives and fire retardants, the others will contain an assortment of adhesives. None should be burnt in a stove.

If the pallet wood is clean and untreated, it will be fine. Burns quick though..