Local News

Wanted: Ecology Will pay cash for dirty woodstoves

By NCBI
May 18, 2012

Got an old dirty woodstove and live in the Methow Valley?

In a pilot effort to help improve air quality, the Department of Ecology is offering $250 to residents turning in old woodstoves. In 2011, the Legislature designated funds for the program from the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) to reduce smoke in communities.

One-day only, the event runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2012, at Cascade Concrete Products, 54 Horizon Flats Road in Winthrop. Participants in the cash-back program must be age 18 or older and are limited to receiving a voucher for up to two stoves.

"Air quality in the valley has been steadily deteriorating during the winter months and one way for residents to help is by reducing emissions coming out of their homes." said Sean Hopkins, an air quality specialist with Ecology. "The Methow Valley is a beautiful place and the people who choose to live and visit here care about the health and beauty of their community. We hope this cash-back program will provide an incentive for people to consider cleaner burning options such as a newer, more efficient certified stove that burns less wood and emits less smoke, or using solar, electric, propane or natural gas where available."

This winter, the air monitor on Glover Street in Twisp recorded 21 days when the air was unhealthy to breathe at times during a 24 hour average period. Pollution information gathered year round at the monitor puts the town in the top 12 in the state for the fine particles found in smoke and diesel fumes. This graphic (www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2012/docs/fineparticlepollution.pdf) illustrates statewide averaging data from the past three years.

Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) members will assist Ecology's Air Quality Program staff on Saturday with unloading and recycling the stoves. They also will provide clean burning tips like burning only dry seasoned wood and small hot fires and not dampering down your stove. For more information, check out Ecology's website (www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/indoor_woodsmoke/wood_smoke_page.htm).



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