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Rebates are once again available to Kamloops residents planning on removing and replacing their old wood-burning appliances, according to the city.

The wood stove and fireplace exchange program, now in its fourth year, encourages people to decommission their older, non-EPA certified wood-burning appliances, as they emit more particulates than newer ones.

According to a City of Kamloops press release, homeowners who remove an eligible wood-burning stove or fireplace and replace it with a new, lower-emission alternative can receive up to $1,100 in rebates.

This year, a maximum of 60 rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. A household is only eligible for one rebate.

According to the city, 62 wood-burning appliances were exchanged through the program last year.

In order to participate in this program, residents should visit The Fireplace Centre, The Fireplace Gallery, or Johnson Walsh to ask about eligibility, find out which appliances can be upgraded and to receive a rebate application form.

The City of Kamloops is also offering a $200 rebate for city residents who remove their uncertified wood-burning stoves, but do not wish to replace them. A maximum of 25 such rebates will be issued — one per household, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For this Wood Stove Scrap-It program, pre-registration is required to determine eligibility.

For those who will continue to burn wood for heat, the city encourages using clean, dry, seasoned wood or pellets in an EPA-certified appliance to reduce particulates and ensure efficiency.