How you can contribute to clean air
Brisbane City Council is committed to keeping Brisbane clean and green. Council works hard to keep Brisbane’s air clean but everyone can play their part. Clean air is vital to our city’s liveability, giving us good health and enabling us to enjoy our outdoor lifestyle.
Air pollution can contain hundreds of different chemicals, but there are six criteria pollutants that are most important for health and are measured at monitoring stations around the city. These pollutants are: Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Sulphur dioxide, Ozone and Volatile organic compounds.
In Brisbane these pollutants mainly come from motor vehicles, bushfires and vegetation burning, domestic heating (for example wood heaters), paint fumes and industrial emissions.
Find out how you can contribute to clean air at home, at work and when travelling around the city.
Vehicles
Motor vehicles are responsible for more than 70% of air pollution in Brisbane. Through population growth, it's estimated there will be an increase of over 30% in vehicle kilometres travelled annually by 2026. That's why we need to be smarter about how we travel.
Smart travel choices
Consider taking a greener travel option such as:
- public transport
- carpooling
- walking or cycling, especially for short trips – find out all you need to get started from Cycling Brisbane.
Cleaner vehicles
You can make a big difference to air quality simply by making sure your vehicle is regularly maintained and running well. It is estimated that servicing and tuning the worst 20% of all cars would reduce vehicle pollution by approximately 80%.
Low-emission cars, such as electric cars and electric hybrids will save running costs and greatly reduce pollution.
Find out more about owning an electric vehicle and Council's electric buses.
Eco-driving
Eco-driving is easy and costs nothing. In fact, you can save fuel and reduce pollutant emissions from your vehicle by up to 30% simply by following these driving tips:
- accelerate and brake gently
- look ahead and cruise smoothly
- avoid unnecessary idling
- avoid over-use of the air-conditioner
- keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure for your vehicle
- remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle, for example tool boxes, prams or roof-racks
- combine short trips into one longer round trip. This will help the engine to be warmed up and the emission control equipment to be working properly.
Vehicle complaints
You can report vehicles which blow smoke continuously for more than 10 seconds to the Department of Transport and Main Roads through the smoky vehicle hotline on 132 019 or via an online form.
Indoor air quality
Pollutants such as volatile compounds from cleaning agents, new carpets and furniture, nitrogen dioxide from gas appliances and mould spores from damp areas can build up inside the home to create unhealthy air quality. We spend 90% of the day indoors, so residential and office air quality is important to health and well-being.
Protect your home's air quality by:
- ventilating your home
- ensuring gas heaters and stoves are properly flued
- choosing low or no solvent products (for example, linseed oil, water and beeswax polish)
- selecting a particle board or medium-density fibreboard made with low-formaldehyde glue
- using low toxic interior paints and finishes (for example, low or zero volatile organic compounds).
Find out more about your home's air quality.
Choosing clean energy
Electricity that comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas not only releases greenhouse gas, but also contributes to air pollution that impacts on health. Choosing electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind, helps to improve air quality and minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Council has advice on selecting heating options to achieve the best outcome for the environment.
Wood heaters, backyard and open-air burning
The personal safety of Brisbane residents and visitors is our top priority.
Under the new Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2021, Council allows the use of above-ground braziers and fire pits in residential areas, provided the smoke does not impact neighbours and the fire does not pose a safety risk to people or property.
Due to coronavirus, Council requests people limit the use of wood heaters, pizza ovens, wood-fired barbecues, fire pits and braziers.
Smoke generated from wood heaters and open-air fires including backyard wood-fired barbecues may impact the health of residents with respiratory or other health conditions. Be considerate of your neighbours.
Learn how to minimise the risks of causing smoke impacts or fire safety issues.
Check our Coronavirus: Council updates and impacts page for the latest updates. Find out more information about open-air fire restrictions and how to protect yourself from smoke. For health advice visit Queensland Health website.
Wood heaters
Smoke from wood heaters contains as many toxic compounds as cigarette smoke. Find out how you can avoid creating a smoke nuisance for your neighbours.
Industry guides
Brisbane industries emit a large proportion of nitrogen oxides, particles and volatile organic compounds, which can affect our health. These local industries include:
- service stations
- concrete manufacturing
- petroleum refining
- port operations.
Industry operators can contribute to clean air by using best practice pollution control technologies and following the procedures in the industry environmental guides.