Air quality

Air quality affects our health, environment, and quality of life therefore monitoring and working to improve air quality can have significant social, environmental, and economic benefits for everyone.

View our air quality data

Our current air quality data can be viewed through the London Air Quality Network (LAQN).

Live air quality data can be viewed through the Breathe London Network.

Sign up for air quality alerts

Sign up to AirTEXT to receive free air quality alerts.

Stop engine idling

Engine idling creates unnecessary air pollution and is an offence that can result in a £20 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

Car idling produces up to 150 balloons of exhaust emissions per minute, containing harmful chemicals like cyanide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and PM2.5 particles.

Combating this is particularly important in areas with high numbers of idling vehicles, such as outside schools, hospitals, and bus stops.

Find out more about car idling.

Embrace active transport

Transport is responsible for 21% of emissions in Wandsworth.

By walking or cycling more you will reduce emissions in the borough and improve your health.

Find out more about active modes of travel.

Reducing the burning of wood and coal

Burning wood and coal at home emits dangerous fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a known carcinogen that can cause serious illnesses affecting the lungs, heart and brain.

Exposure to PM2.5 can also trigger the symptoms of existing health conditions.

Biomass wood burning is the second largest source of PM2.5 in London, after road transport.

Smoke control area

On 1 November 2012, the borough's Smoke Control Order came into effect, legally defining areas where smoke cannot be released from a chimney.

The whole of Wandsworth is a smoke control area, requiring residents and businesses to use exempt appliances and/or authorised fuel.

Find out more about smoke control areas.

Don't burn waste

There are environmentally friendly ways of dealing with garden waste and household items, avoiding unnecessary pollution from burning.

Find out how to recycle garden waste or book a bulky waste collection.

Invest in an alternative fuel vehicle

Petrol and diesel engines emit carbon dioxide and air pollutants, which negatively impact our health.

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) offer significant environmental benefits and often have lower running costs.

Alternative fuels and vehicles available in the UK include:

  • Electric vehicles
  • Electric hybrid vehicles
  • Fuel cell vehicles
  • LPG (liquified petroleum gas)
  • CNG (compressed natural gas)
  • Biomethane

View a map of EV charging points and a list of LPG stations in the UK.