Are you in the Low Smoke Zone?

From 1st September 2020 Ashbourne Town and Environs will become a Low Smoke Zone under the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. From that date it will be illegal to burn bituminous coal (Smoky Coal) within the Low Smoke Zone. Smokeless coal, turf/peat briquettes and wood are deemed to be smokeless fuels and are acceptable.

Under the Regulations coal merchants and retail outlets are not allowed to display or sell bituminous coal within Low Smoke Zones. Ashbourne joins Laytown-Bettystown and Navan which have been Low Smoke Zones since 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The use of residential solid fuel is a significant source of air pollution, notably ‘particulate matter’ or smoke. To maintain and improve air quality standards and to ensure that our air quality will be healthy and clean, an amendment of the solid fuel regulations (S.I 260 of 2020) has been made. Ashbourne is one of thirteen new Low Smoke Zones to be introduced Nationwide as part of this amendment.

Information and a map showing the specified areas is available on www.dccae.gov.ie and can also be obtained from Meath County Council or on the website www.meath.ie.

Remember: If you live in a low smoke zone –

• Only burn smokeless solid fuel products

If you have a complaint about smoky emissions contact:

• Meath County Council at 046 9097200;
• Email environment@meathcoco.ie; or
• Out of hours contact the EPA at LoCall number 1850 365 121