Promoting Actions at Local Levels

Anita Wong, Environment CanadaSources and Measurements WorkshopCEC North American Strategy for Catalyzing Cooperation on Dioxins, Furans and HCBOctober 29th, 2010Mexico City, Mexico

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Summary

• Use of Instruments eg.– Canada-wide Standards– National Pollutant Release Inventory

• Outreach Projects eg.– Burn barrel– Residential wood combustion

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Instruments

• Canada-wide Standards– Framework established for federal, provinces and territories to

develop national standards for substances of common interest– National standards of dioxins/furans for 5 priority sectors that

accounted for 80% of emissions– Standards developed through multistakeholder consultations

including government agencies, industries, ENGOs based on BACT and pollution prevention principles

– Jurisdictions develop Implementation Plan to meet numerical targets and timelines

– Include monitoring and progress reporting requirements

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Instruments

• Publication of pollutant release inventories

– Increased public awareness of local releases and air quality

– Support local studies and actions

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Burn Barrel/Open Burning

• Established Burn Barrel Workgroup under Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy including federal, provincial, state and local agencies, industry and NGOs within the Great Lakes Basin

• Burn Barrel Strategy developed with 3 key elements:– Outreach– Infrastructure– Enforcement

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Burn Barrel/Open Burning

Outreach Activities:

• Developed and maintained website to post strategy, studies and outreach information on open burning

• Promote awareness through partnerships with local agencies and environmental groups

• Developed fact sheet to promote awareness and local action

• Workshop and information distributed to rural municipal offices, residents, farm , first nations, rural residents, landowners and landfill operators

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Residential Wood Combustion

• Burn It Smart Campaign (2002-2007)– An awareness campaign on health and safety issues

when heating with wood and the benefits of using good practices and advanced technology wood burning appliances for reduced emissions

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Outreach Materials

• Posters– Wood Heating, A Guide to: Burn Less Wood, Make Less Smoke,

Be More Comfortable– http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/335DD970-9FFD-4227-B3E0-54EED667DCA

A/Wood_heating_guide-En.pdf

• Brochures– Health impacts– Safety concerns– Good practices– http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Campagne_chauffage_au_bois-

WS69573E19-1_En.htm

• Videos– Advanced Technology Woodstoves – EPA– Firewood – Forest to the shed– Woodstove operation– http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Wood_Heating-WSC1A217A6-1_En.htm

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Promote Action

• Technology Improvement and Implementation– Advanced technology wood burning appliances emit significantly

fewer emissions than conventional, inefficient appliances– Conventional appliances make up the majority of appliances

currently in use within Canada (approximately 3 million)– Changeout programs provide financial incentive to replace old

stoves with new or add on technologies to further reduce emissions

• Improved Burning Practices– Significant emission reductions can be achieved by using

appropriate burning practices (i.e.. use of clean/dry wood, only wood, hot small fires)

– Public education on clean burning and advanced technology appliances can contribute to emissions reduction

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Burn It Smart Display Booth

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Community Educational Workshops

• Workshops held in mostly rural municipalities for municipal staff, fire departments, elected officials and residents of the community

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Burn Trailer Demonstration at Events

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Other Activities and Resources

• 2006 Model Municipal Bylaw for Regulating Woodburning Appliances

– A tool to help municipalities experiencing air quality problems due to residential wood combustion

– http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/caol/pollution_sources/woodburningbylaw/1toc_e.cfm

• Standards and Guides– Revising Canada Standards Association (CSA) standard for

wood combustion appliances (comparable to EPA Standard)– Updated “Guide to Residential Wood Burning” through Canada

Mortgage Housing Corporation (CHMC)▪ http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/66067.pdf

• Financial Incentives– ecoENERGY rebate– Home Renovation Tax Credit– Local change-out programs