Promoting clean air on the airwaves!
Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council’s Environmental Services inspectors recently teamed up to speak with Northern Sound FM about the Solid Fuel Regulations and the role of the local authorities in implementing these regulations.
The Inspectors also wanted to give the public advice and guidance on the compliant and safest products to use when they must use solid fuels to heat their homes.
Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council have been working with retailers to ensure that they comply with the Regulations and that only fuel registered with The Environmental Protection Agency is available for sale. As it is an offence to transport unapproved fuel into the state, Multi Agency Checkpoints are also ongoing to reduce the sale and distribution of unapproved products.
How to tell if I am buying the correct products?
To tell if a fuel is an approved product the bag must be labelled with the words “contents comply with the Air Pollution Act Regulations”. The regulations do not have any impact on turf cutting rights or the burning of turf. However, the regulations prohibit the sale of turf via the internet and from retail premises and public places. If you previously sourced turf via any of these channels, you should note these channels are now illegal. If you previously sourced turf from family, friends, or neighbours outside of these channels, this can continue.
Why is Smoky Coal so bad for your health?
Smoky coal, or bituminous coal, contains sulphur dioxide and a particle called Particulate Matter (PM). This is a small particle and is easily inhaled, known as PM2.5. They can penetrate deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream, causing serious harm to your heart health and nearly every organ in the body. Although all forms of solid fuels (peat sod, peat briquettes, smoky bituminous coal, smokeless coal, dry and wet wood) when burned emit PM2.5, there are better fuels than others.
Home solid fuel burning is having a hugely detrimental impact on the nation’s health – with children, older people and those living with chronic diseases being the worst affected. Air pollution causes 1,600 premature deaths in Ireland every year and the vast majority is due to PM2.5 from the burning of solid fuels.
Why is Smoky Coal so bad for the environment?
Visibility impairment - Fine particles (PM2.5) are the main cause of reduced visibility (haze).
Environmental damage - Particles can be carried over long distances by wind and then settle on ground or water. Depending on their chemical composition, the effects of this settling may include:
- making lakes and streams acidic
- changing the nutrient balance in river basins
- depleting the nutrients in soil
- damaging sensitive forests and farm crops
- affecting the diversity of ecosystems
- contributing to acid rain effects.
Materials damage - Acid rain can stain and damage stone and other materials, including culturally important objects such as statues and monuments.
Contact us
For further information, please contact the Environmental Services Section of Cavan County Council on 049 437 8486 or by email at environ@cavancoco.ie.