Eindhoven focuses on clean air with campaign against wood burning

Awareness about wood smoke

In the autumn and winter, many residents experience odor and health nuisance due to wood smoke. Not burning is the best option. For those who still want to burn, we are starting this campaign. It is a call to residents to be mindful of burning - or to refrain from it temporarily - out of concern for their neighbors and the air quality in the city.

Councilor Rik Thijs (Climate and Energy): Municipality of Eindhoven chooses an approach that revolves around communication, understanding, and responsibility. Reports of nuisance are used to inform both reporters and burners about the consequences of wood burning and possible solutions. Enforcement remains the last resort, only when communication and consultation do not lead to improvement. We primarily say: be considerate of each other and talk about it in the neighborhood.

Wood burning prohibited at code red

From October 1, a ban on indoor wood burning applies at orange and red codes according to the national Burning Guidelines. This means no use of fireplaces, wood stoves, and pellet stoves when air quality is severely compromised. Orange and red codes are determined based on weather conditions and air pollution. Current burning advice can be found at stookwijzer.nu.

For outdoor burning (such as with fire pits), we also ask to consider vulnerable groups. Certainly, do not burn during fog or calm winds. Furthermore, the municipality asks to take responsibility when burning outdoors by using clean and dry wood.

Health and wood smoke

Smoke contains dangerous substances such as fine particles, PAHs, and carbon monoxide. People with respiratory problems, heart and vascular diseases, lung cancer, or COPD are greatly affected by wood smoke. Children, the elderly, and people with asthma also suffer significantly from wood smoke. Eindhoven has therefore joined the Clean Air Agreement and is taking additional measures, such as the policy rule duty of care for wood burning. This underscores the responsibility of burners to prevent nuisance and health damage.

Talking to your neighbors

The municipality encourages residents to talk to each other in case of nuisance. Many burners do not realize that their burning behavior causes nuisance. Together, you can make agreements about when and how to burn, or use the Burning Guidelines as a guideline.

In case of orange and red codes, you can report via stookwijzer.nu.
Reports at yellow or orange codes are not followed up.