Back-yard coal dumps ‘boost pollution'

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 21

Back-yard coal dumps ‘boost pollution'

People who stock up oni coal to hedge against price rises and leave it in their back vards, may be worsening Christchurch’s pollution, I according to the president lof the Christchurch branch of the Clean Air Society (Mr P. V. Neary). Storage of coal usually resulted in the formation of more slack than if coal was used fairly quickly, he said. If large quantities of coal were stored in back yards, there would be more slack, leading to greater smoke emissions later in the year. He asked coal buyers to check the sulphur content of coal and ask about its storage ability. If Buller coal was brought in to replenish local supplies, I there would probablv be an increase of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere, Mr Neary] said. Buller coal had an aver-1 age sulphur content of 3 per, cent, but lower-grade coal I sent to satisfy a temporary’* shortage would probably, have a sulphur content] closer to 5 per cent. 1