Managing air quality

Air pollution in Richmond comes from a variety of sources.

• How we are managing air quality in Richmond Upon Thames
• How you can help to manage and improve air quality
• Get free airTEXT air quality alerts

How we are managing air quality in Richmond Upon Thames

There are many ways that we manage and improve air quality in the borough, through projects, monitoring and working with residents, schools and businesses.

Find out how we are managing and improving air quality in Richmond upon Thames.

How you can help to manage and improve air quality

You can help to reduce your contributions to local air pollution in many ways:

Clean Air Challenge

Take our Clean Air Challenge to reduce your contributions to local air pollution.

Air pollution calculator

Discover ways you might be able to reduce your impact on local air pollution with the air pollution calculator.

Other actions that you can take to reduce your contributions include:

• Make your deliveries greener by searching for Click and Collect and other options, such as choosing a green delivery slot or a hub
• Keep wood burning stoves or fires for special occasions only and ensure you burn the correct fuel
• Leave your car at home for short journeys and walk or cycle whenever possible. Improve your cycling confidence: book a free cycle training course; trial or hire a bike or cargo bike with one of our bicycle and cargo bike schemes
• Sign up for our garden recycling and collection instead of having bonfires which are a significant cause of pollution
• Improve the insulation in your home ready for the winter; you can get energy advise for your home from the Energy Saving trust and information about green homes grants
• If you drive, switch off your engine when your vehicle is stationary and become a volunteer at future idling action events to help encourage other drivers to do the same
• Make sure your boiler is serviced each year to help it burn fuel more cleanly and consider upgrading your boiler, installing solar panels or air source heat pumps
• If you have a car, have it serviced regularly and keep tyres at the right pressure which helps to minimise the production of polluting particles. If you are replacing your car, consider joining a car club or buy an electric car

Use low-pollution routes

When leaving your car at home for short journeys, you can help to keep your exposure to air pollution as low as possible by walking and cycling along less busy roads and avoiding peak traffic hours whenever it is possible.

You can use the Cross River Partnership low pollution route finder for all of your walking and cycling journeys including for your commute and for leisure.

When you need to walk along main roads, particularly at busier times, walk on the 'inner' side of the pavement as far away from the road and vehicles as possible.

When cooking and cleaning, ventilate and avoid sprays

When you are cooking or cleaning, open windows and use extractor fans when they are installed. You can also help to lower the harmful chemicals you are exposed to when cleaning by using creams and fluids instead of products that spray, and if possible by buying eco products.

Other ways to reduce your exposure at home

• Burn candles and joss sticks on special occasions only
• Reduce your use of spray products. For example, replace sprays with a roll-on deoderant, and hair creams, clay or wax
• Keep lids on saucepans when boiling food which will help to reduce escaping moisture that can cause mould
• Minimise the amount of smoke you produce from tobacco products and/or the use of open fires and wood-burning stoves

Get free airTEXT air quality alerts

The air quality forecast for today can be seen on the airTEXT website together with some health advice if levels are high.

This free London wide air quality information service is designed to help people who are more at risk from high levels of air pollution. airTEXT works by sending air pollution alerts to tell you when the air pollution level is going to be higher so that you can manage your exposure.

How to register

Visit the Sign up page (on the airTEXT website). You can choose to receive the alerts by:

• Text message to your mobile phone
• Recorded voice message to your home phone
• Email

For further information, you can contact the Special Projects Team on 020 8891 7729. If you have neighbours or friends who wish to be registered, and who have no Internet access, they can also call this number to register.