By Linda Taaffe

The Los Altos City Council is poised to add two new laws to the books intended to reduce pollution. One will restrict wood burning, the other demolition and construction waste.

The council last week approved the initial reading of a woodburning fireplace ordinance that would prohibit woodburning fireplaces in new homes. The ordinance would not affect homes with existing fireplaces or future additions or remodels on such homes.

The ordinance would permit gas-burning fireplaces or EPA certified wood fuel stoves in new homes.

The council is scheduled to consider whether to include a provision in the ordinance that would require homeowners to remove all wood or pellet-fueled heaters that are not EPA certified upon the sale of their homes.

A handful of local realtors urged the council to exclude the provision, saying such a law would be cumbersome for everyone.

The environmental committee developed the ordinance using the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s model ordinance.

The council voted to hold a study session with contractors before voting on the constructiton and demolition recyling ordinance intended to reduce the stream of solid waste going to regional landfills.