Wood You Should Never Burn (and What to Burn Instead)

What wood should I never burn?

Can I burn old pallets if they look untreated?

It's best not to. HETAS says pallets are likely to have been treated, and the National Association of Chimney Sweeps says you must not burn old fence panels or wooden pallets. You can't tell what's in the wood by looking at it.

Is it illegal to burn treated wood at home?

• The Environmental Protection Act makes it an offence to dispose of waste in a way that's likely to pollute the environment or harm health.
• If smoke from your chimney is a nuisance to neighbours, the council can serve an abatement notice under section 79 of the same Act.
• In a smoke control area, smoke from your chimney can bring a penalty of £175 to £300. See wood burner rules 2026.
• The NACS warns that your home insurance may be invalid if you don't burn recommended fuel, which must be dry.

Are any trees poisonous to burn?

Yew is the one most people ask about. The Woodland Trust says its seeds, bark and leaves are poisonous, but Kew says evidence of yew wood itself causing health problems is limited to a few cases of irritation. Keep yew clippings and leaves off the fire. Oleander smoke is poisonous, according to the New South Wales government, so never burn it. We found no reliable evidence for other common claims, such as laurel or ivy smoke being toxic.

What should I burn instead?

Clean, untreated logs dried to 20% moisture or less. GOV.UK says wood sold in volumes under 2 m³ must be certified Ready to Burn, which guarantees 20% or less. Dense hardwoods such as oak, ash and beech give the longest burn. See the best wood to burn.