Rogue fuel suppliers in Cork frustrating council inspectors

Rogue fuel suppliers in Cork are proving difficult to stop because as soon as they are detected they simply move operations somewhere else, according to a senior Cork County Council official.

Ted O’Leary, of the environment directorate, said the local authority is trying to crack down on rogue traders supplying smoky coal and wet wood which, he says, are being smuggled into the country.

It’s illegal to sell smoky coal but not illegal for householders to burn it. However, several councillors said they’ve witnessed it burning in homes.

Meanwhile, burning wet firewood in the home not only carries health and safety risks, but is also uneconomical as wood with a higher moisture content produces less heat.

Firewood from approved producers must be dried to a moisture content of less than 25%.

Carrigaline-based Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan said an estate he recently visited was covered in a thick blanket of smog which could have serious respiratory implications for elderly or vulnerable people.

Blatantly obvious

“It was blatantly obvious what was going on. What are we doing with inspections of houses?” he asked.

Mr O’Leary said legislation currently states it is illegal to sell smoky coal or wet wood, but it is not illegal to burn it. He said council inspectors are targeting wholesale fuel suppliers and not homeowners.

Last year the council carried out 100 inspections of wholesale fuel suppliers, of which 23 had some compliance issues. Four received warning letters and there were no enforcement proceedings.

Mr O’Leary added he has “no doubt” that some of the stuff has been smuggled into the country, and continues to be, despite the ban.

“When we shut something down, it reopens again. When we close them down in one location, they go somewhere else and do it."

Mr O’Leary said there’s a problem with wet wood sales at roadsides, and the council is constantly monitoring these. But once they are apprehended they’re likely to move their operations to another location.

Concern

Carrigtwohill-based Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry also expressed concern about the amount of smoky coal still being used and asked how the council is going to counter this.

Mr O’Leary said when they identify an area where it’s happening, they normally do a leaflet drop pointing out the health dangers.

He said this is also highlighted to perpetrators in an estate because their own health is being put at risk.

“Raising awareness is our principal tool to highlighting health problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, concern has been raised that more ‘wet timber’ is being sold off as fuel because the council has stopped taking it in for recycling at its civic amenity sites.

The council stopped accepting timber because the bottom had fallen out of the market for recycling it.

However, in reply to a query from Mr Donovan, another senior official said it was hoped to announce “some positive news” this year on renewed acceptance of timber.