Solid fuels that are known to cause the most damage to the environment will be completely off the market soon.
Environment Minister today signed the new Solid Fuel Regulations, banning the advertising and sale of turf online or from retail units.
According to a study done by the Environmental Protection Agency, the most dangerous pollution particles in the country come from smoke emitted by solid fuel burned in homes.
The micro-particles can pass through your lungs, enter your bloodstream, and can seep into internal organs - resulting in headaches, breathing difficulty, eye irritation, and even cardiac issues.
Some of the known long-term impacts of this pollution include asthma, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and reduced liver function.
Under these regulations the following new health standards for solid fuels will apply from 31 October this year:
- 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 sulphur content of less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis. Subject to a market assessment, this limit will be reduced to 1% with effect from 1 September 2025
- 100% biomass products, wood products, and wood logs, supplies in units under 2m³, will be required to have a moisture content of 25% or less (moving to 20% with effect from 1 September 2025). Wood logs sold in larger volumes will be required to come with instructions for the purchaser on how to dry this wood
Despite these changes, people with turbary rights will continue to be able to cut turf for their own use and will still be able to gift or sell turf.
However, a statement from the government clarified that “no sale of turf may take place by way of the internet or other media (i.e. advertising in local press), or from retail premises.”
Then by 2025 these same fuel alternatives will only be allowed to remain on the market if manufacturers can reduce the smoke emitted per hour to five grams - while sulphur content must be halved.
This will also affect other solid fuels - as wood sold for heating will have to have a moisture content of 25% or less.
Within four years, this will have to be reduced to 20% while wet wood will come with instructions on how to dry it.
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