COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 13, 2010

MOTION NO. 29

MOTION: Councillor P. Kearns

That this Council calls on the Manager to explore the possibility of setting aside a proportion of the trees that the Council cuts down in the County for converting into logs for distributed via charitable organisations to people who cannot afford to buy heating fuel this winter.

REPORT:

The majority of the Council's tree maintenance programme involves pruning trees rather than felling trees and the material generated is normally shredded on site. The number of trees felled each winter is relatively small as is the volume of timber that could be converted to logs.  

Timber that has been freshly cut is generally not suitable for burning because of the high moisture content of fresh wood which is typically greater than 50%. Timber is normally stored (seasoned) for a number of months to reduce the moisture content to below 30% which improves the burning efficiency. 

Unseasoned logs can be burned in an open fireplace but are best burnt with solid fuels, which burn at higher temperatures, in order to reduce the amount of tar condensates building up in the chimney and the consequent risk of chimney fires. Unseasoned logs can lead to severe damage if burnt in closed appliances because of tar condensates building up inside the appliance. Timber that will be cut this winter would not therefore be considered suitable for burning until next autumn/winter after undergoing a seasoning period in dry storage.

The matter will be explored with charitable organisations such as the Vincent de Paul to establish if such a scheme is practical, given the range of issues that would need to be addressed.