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CLEAN AIR
Smoke Control Generally
Since the Borough completed its Smoke Control Programme in 1967, steady progress has been made in
reducing the level of pollution from smoke and sulphur dioxide. Based on the readings of the three
atmospheric pollution recording stations situated in the north, central and south of the Borough respectively,
the average concentrations of smoke for 1972 were 28 microgrammes per cubic metre (1971 - 35
microgrammes per cubic metre) and sulphur dioxide 81 microgrammes per cubic metre (1971 - 158
microgrammes per cubic metre). This downward trend has been accentuated by the increasing use of gas
which has a negligible sulphur content, and the lighter fuel oils with a low sulphur of below 1%. The number of
coal fired plants still in operation have continued to decline and can now literally be counted on one hand.
Even coke fired installations are being replaced by gas or oil. The number of gas fired installations being
installed both for domestic and non-domestic use has increased, in some cases even replacing oil. However, the
very large installations such as the power station and hospitals continue to use heavy oil.
Fulham Power Station
The changeover from coal to oil firing which commenced in 1970, was completed in 1972 and there has been
a marked reduction, since the changeover in the emissions of smoke. The power station uses a heavy oil, but
with a sulphur content of about 1% which is low for a fuel of this type.
Charing Cross Hospital (Fulham)
The new Charing Cross (Fulham Hospital), which was commissioned in 1970 has brought about a great
improvement in the area, but is still experiencing'teething troubles' from the heating plant and it is hoped that
these will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion early in the new year.
Emissions of Smoke
Many complaints are received from the public regarding the emissions of smoke from industrial,
commercial, office blocks and public buildings, especially as domestic consumers have to burn authorised
fuels smokelessly. The clean air legislation does allow for the emissions of smoke under certain conditions
such as lighting-up from cold and meeting sudden demands of steam due to fluctuating loads, etc. Provided
these do not exceed the Dark Smoke Permitted Period Regulations, 1958, these emissions are quite lawful,
although extensive black smoke is not permitted by the Act. However, all smoke emissions should be reported
for investigation by this department, though it may well be that in some cases they are within the permitted
limit. Sometimes emissions of steam are mistaken for white smoke.
Demolition Sites and Domestic Bonfires
It is quite a common sight to see bonfires on demolition sites, creating a nuisance owing to the lack of
supervision on the site. Although legislation does permit the burning of rubbish on site, under controlled
conditions, there is no excuse for the clouds of smoke and fly ash that result and complaints of this nature
should be reported for investigation. Another source of complaint is the domestic garden bonfire which is not
to be encouraged as it does tend to affect neighbours in close proximity, but if causing a nuisance it can be dealt
with under existing legislation.
Incineration
The use of incineration as a method of trade refuse disposal has proved rather disappointing as regards the
smoke and smut emissions that do frequently occur. In some cases the incinerator has been overfilled and
forced beyond its capacity with the result that the plant cannot cope and unnecessary smoke emissions occur.
I his is usually due to the carelessness of the incinerator operatives and the shortsightedness on the part of
management who have underestimated the amount of refuse to be disposed of so that the existing incinerator
is really too small for the task at hand. This is an uneconomic policy as the plant is subject to greater heating
stresses affecting the refractory brickwork and the incinerator and tends to wear out quickly resulting in its
replacement in a comparatively shorter time.
Other incinerators do not seem to be able to burn smokelessly the plastic content of the refuse which has
increased considerably over the last few years. If the smoke problem from incinerators is not to get out of
hand, radical changes in design are necessary and in some cases alternative methods of refuse disposal may
have to be used.
It would appear essential that for smokeless incineration to be effective, the following guide lines should be
borne in mind:-
(1) Always have plant large enough to cope with existing load and any foreseeable future load.
(2) Always use trained staff to operate the plant as per manufacturers instructions. This is not easy to
achieve as the labour available is often unskilled and cannot always be closely supervised.
(3) The plastic content of the refuse should be kept to a minimum unless the plant can adequately cope with
plastics. The rule should be to burn a little at a time.
B16