Firing up the stove is a daily routine in winter, but the choice of fuel affects efficiency, cost, health and the environment. Do you know what not to burn? Check out the guide to avoid mistakes and take care of ecology and safety!
Why the choice of fuel matters?
Inadequate fuel can lead to serious consequences. First of all, burning banned materials often generates toxic substances, such as dioxins or nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to health. Moreover, illegal waste burning can result in fines and even a court case.
What you must not burn in a boiler?
Here's a list of items and materials that should never go in your oven:
1. Plastics and plastics Plastics, such as PET bottles, food wrappers and old toys, should never go into the stove. Burning plastics releases harmful substances such as hydrogen chloride and dioxins, which are carcinogenic. In addition, plastic exhaust heavily pollutes the chimney, leading to chimney clogging.
2. Medical waste Used masks, syringes or other medical waste must be disposed of according to procedures. Burning them in a furnace generates toxic gases that are dangerous to health and the environment. Many municipalities offer collection points for this type of waste, so take advantage of them.
3. Tires and other rubber products Car tires and other rubber items emit a huge amount of toxins when burned. Their disposal should be done at specialized facilities. Burning rubber is not only harmful, but also illegal.
4. Furniture and particle board It often seems that old furniture is the perfect fuel. Unfortunately, this is a mistaken assumption. Particle board and furniture contain adhesives and paints that release harmful chemicals, including formaldehyde, when burned. Such fuel also damages the heating system.
5. Wet wood Although wood is a natural fuel, it only makes sense to burn it if it is properly dried. Wet wood generates a lot of smoke, reduces the efficiency of the stove and leads to soot contamination of the chimney.
6. Kitchen waste Food leftovers or vegetable peelings are not suitable for fuel. Burning them causes unpleasant odors and lowers the efficiency of the stove. A better solution is composting.
7 Textiles and clothing Old clothes, especially synthetic ones, release microplastics and toxins when burned. Textiles should be donated to clothing collection centers or used for upcycling.
Choose certified fuel and maintain the condition of the stove to make heating safe and environmentally friendly. Each of us has an impact on air quality, which is why it is so important to follow the rules and collectively care for a clean environment.