Council warns of new fuel rules
The local County Council has warned of incoming rules surrounding the sale and supply of solid fuels, including turf, coal and wood.
The new regulations were agreed by Cabinet in July and aim to further cut down on the country's carbon emissions.
The Government has said "the primary focus of the draft regulations is on the large-scale, commercial sale of smoky fuels, including smoky coal, turf and wet wood", as "these fuels are proven to be a major contributor to air pollution in Ireland".
Despite this, the move has drawn criticism and claims the cutting of turf would be banned. The Government has been clear this will not be affected but the sale of turf would be banned.
Under the regulations the following new health standards for solid fuels will apply from October 31 next.
Cavan County Council has issued advice to people in the county ahead of the new regulations.
Retailers and merchants will not be permitted to sell unapproved fuels. Approved solid fuels must be labelled with the words "contents comply with the Air Pollution Act Regulations” and packaging must also include the EPA producer registration number.
The introduction of carbon taxes and stricter regulations led to concerns from border counties like Cavan that people would travel to Northern Ireland to avail of cheaper fuels. However, these new rules contain measures to prevent that.
"You may be able to source unapproved fuels outside the State, however it is an offence to transport an unapproved fuel", says the Council.
Some of the changes that will apply when the regulations come into effect include:
- Coal products and manufactured solid fuels must have a smoke emission rate of less than 10 grams per hour – this is the same as currently in force in low smoke zones. Currently Cavan Town is a low smoke zone.
- Coal products and manufactured solid fuels, must have a sulphur content of less than 2%
- Fuel products which are 100% biomass products including, wood products and wood logs, supplied in units of two cubic metres or less, must have a moisture content of less than 25%.
- Wood logs supplied in units of two cubic metres or more shall be accompanied by a notice outlining 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 media, in public houses or other public places. If you currently source turf from family, friends, neighbours outside of the channels mentioned this can continue.