Council resource kit

Local councils receive hundreds of complaints about neighbourhood wood smoke every winter.

The EPA's resource kit helps local councils to run education campaigns that encourage correct wood heater use and maintenance, helping to reduce wood smoke pollution in your community.

Downloadable education resources include brochures, posters, press advertisements and Facebook ads. Add your council's logo to localise your campaign.

Behavioural research findings

Behavioural research by the EPA shows people like using wood heaters because they provide warmth and can be an affordable way to heat their home.

However, users of wood heaters may not realise that wood smoke can pollute the air and affect people's health, or if their wood heater is producing too much smoke.

The EPA prepared some images and messages for focus group testing using findings from behavioural research.

Resources

Example images and messages

A backyard scene showing 4 children running and playing on green grass with autumn trees and 2 brick houses in the background. Four adults stand near a shade umbrella on a paved area, observing the children, with smoke rising from a chimney on one house. This image was enhanced using generative AI tools.

Message: Don't harm the street when you heat. Wood smoke contains air pollution that can harm you and your loved ones.

Audience: Metropolitan and regional communities

Motivation: Wood smoke is a shared community problem. It drifts beyond property lines and affects everyday neighbourhood life.

Wood smoke collecting in the air around houses in a valley with tree-covered hills in background. Smoke rises from chimneys, and bare tree branches frame scene under a cloudy sky with patches of blue. Credit: Air Policy. This image was enhanced using generative AI tools.

Message: Wood smoke is air pollution. Still winter air traps it close to the ground where we breath.

Audience: Regional communities

Motivation: Wood smoke is a town or region-wide air quality issue.

An arm reaches toward an open wood heater, placing more firewood inside to refuel. In the heater, there are visible flames and burning firewood. Credit: Iryna / Adobe Stock

Message: Warm to the skin. Harmful to the lungs. Wood smoke contains air pollution that can harm you and your loved ones.

Audience: Metropolitan and regional communities

Motivation: Keep loved ones safe. Empathy and protection, not blame.

Animations

Print

Series: 'If you can smell it, you’re already breathing it – wood smoke isn’t good smoke'

Press ad design for EPA's 'Wood smoke isn't good smoke' campaign. This is a sample image only, not the original PDF.

Facebook ads

Series: Tony’s tips

Radio ads

Radio reads

The following scripts are designed to be read by an announcer. You may be able to negotiate to have the scripts read as a community service announcement free of charge. Contact your local radio station for further details.

Radio Read 1 – Woodheaters - home, 30sec

Announcer/MVO

Suppose you could make a difference to our local environment without even leaving home, wouldn't that be worth doing?

Well, if you own a wood heater you can do just that by making sure you use it correctly and taking simple steps to reduce the amount of smoke it produces. For instance, don't let your heater smoulder overnight – keep the flame lively and bright.

To find out more contact (insert area name) council today on (insert phone number) or visit the EPA's website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au.

By reducing smoke from wood heaters we can all stay warm and breathe easy.

Radio Read 2 – Wood heaters – smoke checks, 30sec

Announcer/MVO

Is your chimney trying to tell you something?

If it's smoking, your heater might not be operating effectively.

If you're not sure what to look for, or how you can help, get in touch with (insert area name) council and ask for advice on better woodburning. Or ask for an expert to come round and do a smoky chimney check.

By reducing smoke from wood heaters, we can all stay warm and breathe easy.

For more information call (insert area name) council on (insert phone number) or visit the EPA's website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au.

Radio Read 3 – Wood heaters – wood smoke, 30sec

Announcer/MVO

You've probably never thought about it, but smoke from woodheaters can be a major source of air pollution at this time of year.

There are some simple ways to help reduce your heater's impact on the environment. Always burn small, aged logs of dry hardwood. Never burn treated wood or household rubbish. And regularly check your chimney for smoke.

By reducing smoke from woodheaters we can all stay warm and breathe easy.

For more information, call (insert council name) Council on (insert number) or visit the EPA's website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au.