The new Solid Fuel Regulations came into effect on 31st October 2022 for the entire country which results in a ban on the use of smokey coals in all counties of Ireland. See www.gov.ie/cleanair and S.I. No. 529/2022 - Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (irishstatutebook.ie) for details.
The introduction of the new Regulations and the country ban on the use of smokey coal will protect human health and the environment and is consistent with Ireland’s climate change strategy and the move away from the use of fossil fuels to cleaner fuel sources.
The government has a dedicated website for public information on the use of sold fuels.
Under the Regulations, the following obligations and restrictions will apply from 31st October 2023.
- Coal products and manufactured solid fuels must have a smoke emission rate of less than 10g/hour.
- Manufactured part biomass products must have a smoke emission rate of less than 5g/hr.
- Coal products and manufactured solid fuels, including manufactured part biomass products, must have a sulfur content of less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis.
- Fuel products which are 100% biomass products including wood products and wood logs, supplied in units under 2m³, must have a moisture content less than 25%.
- Wet wood sold over these volumes will be required to come with instructions for the purchaser on how to appropriately dry the wood i.e., the need to store and season wet wood until it is sufficiently dried.
- It will not be possible to sell turf via retail, online or other online or media outlets, in public houses or other public places. Persons with turbary rights may continue to cut turf for their own use and retain the ability to gift turf, therefore if you currently source turf from family, friends, neighbours, outside of the channels previously mentioned this can continue.
EPA Registration for Solid Fuel Retailers
FAQ - What the new regulations mean to Retailers
FAQ - For Producers or Importers
FAQ For Couriers And Haulage Companies
Meath County Council shall be responsible for enforcing these regulations in its functional area. Compliance Inspections are being carried out by Meath County Council’s Waste Enforcement Officers, particularly in respect of retailers, coal merchants and coal delivery trucks.
General Public: Information
You may not burn bituminous coal, which is often marketed as “Polish Coal”, “Columbian Coal”, “Texan Coal”, “Russian Coal”, “Premium Coal” or “House Coal”. In addition, you may not burn waste timber particularly that which has been treated, painted, varnished, lacquered, glued, or had any similar substance added, as this causes the release of toxic and cancer-causing air pollutants. Where wood logs/blocks are used, these should be dry, to improve energy efficiency and to avoid excess emissions of creosote, which can build up in your chimney and lead to chimney fires. A creosote chimney fire can burn hot enough to crack a chimney flue or even the chimney breast
How do I know if my fuel is an approved low smoke fuel?
All fuel which is sold as “low smoke coal” should come in sealed bags carrying the wording “APPROVED FUEL - Contents comply with the Air Pollution Act Regulations”.
FAQ - What the new regulations mean to Householders
If you wish to make a complaint about a retailer selling smokey coal in your area or are concerned that smokey coal is being sold illegally in your area please contact the Environment Section of Meath County Council on 0469097200, email environment@meathcoco.ie or post complaint to Environment Section, Buvinda House, Navan, Co Meath.
General Public: Health Implications of burning Fossil Fuels
Ireland’s air quality is generally good and compares well in comparison to other EU countries. There are 3 key pollutants that affect air quality:
Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in relation to ambient air quality. This pollutant is associated with residential burning of solid fuels.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) – in relation to both ambient and total emissions. This pollutant is associated with mainly transport in urban areas
Ammonia (NH3) – associated mainly with agriculture
Pathways and Impacts of Air Pollution (source - Clean Air Strategy for Ireland, 2023)
