Taking Old Equipment Out of Service Reduces Wood-burning Emissions

The Allegheny County Health Department accepted 29 old woodstoves at a collection event in Boyce Park last month, bringing the total collected to 149 since launching a “bounty” program last year for old woodstoves and outdoor wood-fired boilers that do not meet national emission standards.

“We created the bounty program in response to an increasing number of citizen complaints about wood-burning emissions and have been very pleased with the results. Smoke and fine particulate pollution from old woodstoves and outdoor wood-fired boilers will be reduced this winter thanks to the bounty program,” said Health Director Dr. Karen Hacker.

The program, supported by a $75,000 grant from the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund, is for Allegheny County residents and offers a $200 gift card to various retailers for old woodstoves and a $500 cash incentive for uncertified non-Phase II outdoor wood-fired boilers.

The stoves and boilers are rendered inoperable, processed and recycled by Tube City IMS at its Recycling Center in West Mifflin.

Anyone who would like to be notified of any future collection events is encouraged to contact Alaina Conner of the Health Department’s Air Quality Program at aconner@achd.net or 412-578-8106.