In Autumn 2023, a consortium of six local authorities, including Waterford City and County Council and led by Limerick City and County Council, commenced a solid fuel sampling exercise with particular emphasis on monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022.
These regulations implemented the nationwide prohibition on the sale of smoky coal.
Under these Regulations, coal products and manufactured solid fuels must have a sulphur content of less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis, and this limit will reduce to 1% from September 2025, subject to a market assessment.
The burning of high sulphur smoky coal products creates air pollution from:
(i) sulphur dioxide (SO2) which causes respiratory problems
(ii) increased levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can pass through the lungs and enter the blood stream causing cardiopulmonary disorders and strokes. The vast majority of the deaths attributable to air pollution in Ireland are caused by fine particulate matter.
Twenty-five coal samples were taken and were analysed for sulphur content by an accredited laboratory in the U.K. Of the twenty-five samples tested, eighteen (72%) were found to breach the current prescribed sulphur limit on 2%.
Niall Kane, Senior Executive Engineer in the Environment Section of Waterford City and County Council confirmed that the breaches were disappointing and posed a serious concern.
The local authorities are also collaborating with the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in this regard, with each agency currently engaging with producers and suppliers in accordance with their respective roles under the regulations.
Local Authorities are undertaking a further sampling round in Spring 2024 and are committed to using all available powers to secure compliance with the regulations.
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