Firewood acquisition and safety guidelines in Poland

In Poland, individuals can legally obtain firewood through a system known as ‘samowyrób’, where the buyer prepares the wood themselves at a location designated by a forester. This method can reduce raw material costs by more than half. Under this system, buyers typically collect small wood, branches, or leftovers from forest maintenance. A forest ranger must provide training on safety and hygiene, issue a written permit, and conduct measurements and pricing before the wood can be removed. There is an annual limit of 30 cubic meters per person within a single forest district.

While many species like oak, beech, and maple are common for fuel, certain species require caution. For instance, common spindle (trzmielina pospolita) is a very dense wood with high heating value, but it is toxic. Both the bark and the smoke produced from burning it are hazardous, making it unsuitable for use in fireplaces.