If you are looking for an Application form or Council Document you will find them in the All Publications section of this website or alternatively if you are looking for an Environment document or Applications form you can find in Environment Documents & Forms section of this website

Burning of fossil fuels such as coal is a major factor in air pollution. The sale of Bituminous (smoky) coal was banned in parts of Ireland in the early 1990’s in an effort to address this issue. ‘Winter smog’ was a growing problem in urban areas at the time, due to the widespread use of bituminous coal, and this, in turn, had given rise to serious health effects in the population.

On 1st August 2011 a ban on the sale, marketing and distribution of smoky fuel will be introduced to Carlow Town and Environs comprising the following electoral divisions: Carlow Urban, Graigue Urban, Ballinacarrig, Carlow Rural and Graigue Rural.

The ban on smoky coal has greatly reduced levels of Particulate Matter (PM10) in major towns and cities. Black smoke decreased significantly in Dublin after the ban in 1990, in Cork in 1995 and in Limerick 1998. A 70% reduction in the average smoke levels in winter in Dublin was achieved since October 1990. The burning of bituminous coal by households in open fires is now banned in all Irish cities and large towns.

Minister Hogan has also signalled his intention to amend the Air Pollution Act 1987 to give Local Authorities powers to issue fixed payment notices for certain offences under the Fuel Regulations (Air Pollution Act 1987 Marketing Sale and Distribution of Fuels Regulations 1998 (S.I. 118 of 1998)).

Please note Carlow County Council will be enforcing these regulations on anyone who sells, markets or distributes coal NOT HOUSEHOLDERS.

If you sell, market or distribute coal in the ban area and would like to find out more about this ban please contact the Environmental Awareness Officer on (059) 9136240.

Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning Regulations

The Waste Management ( Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning ) Regulations 2009 came into force on the 31st of July 2009. The main points of the new legislation are as follows; however this explanation does not act as a substitute for the law.

1. It is an offence to burn any type of waste including garden waste.
2. The use of devices to burn waste such as the domestic waste incinerators is an offence.
3. It is an offence to burn household waste by use of stoves or open fires.
4. There is an exemption to allow farmers to dispose by burning of untreated/uncontaminated wood, trees, trimmings, leaves, bushes or similar materials generated by agricultural practices as a very last resort. ( This exemption does not apply unless the waste is generated by agricultural practices so it would not apply to leaves/grass/bushes from a domestic garden ).
5. The exemption for farmers only applies until the 1st January 2018, after which time all burning will be disallowed unless an application is made for a Certificate of Registration under the Waste Management ( Facility Permit and Registration ) Regulations, as amended.
6. Until 1st Jan 2018: The onus is on farmers to investigate all other more environmentally friendly methods of treatment of their green waste such as reduction, reuse, and recycling by shredding, composting or wood chipping before disposal by burning.
7. The agricultural exemption applies when all other options of disposal of the green waste generated by agricultural practices are found not to be practicable or economically viable.
8. The farmers ( holder of the waste ) will have to apply to the Local Authority and sign a statutory notice ( available above ) in advance of the proposed burning of such waste.
9. Strict conditions apply when using burning as a means of disposal of green waste ( generated by agricultural practices ) such as limiting nuisance and protection of human health and not causing environmental pollution.
10. Carlow County Council may issue a notice in response to receiving a statutory notice outlining the steps that shall be taken regarding the burning of the waste.
11. The use of untreated or uncontaminated wood waste and other similar materials can be used in barbeques for the purpose of cooking food.
12. Burning of untreated or uncontaminated wood waste or similar materials may take place at events as may be determined locally by the local authority.

Solvents and Deco-Paints Regulations

The Solvents ( VOC ) Regulations and the Deco-Paints Regulations prevent and reduce the effects of VOC emissions from certain activities in order to protect the environment and human health. VOC’s are Volatile Organic Compounds – a collection of different chemicals that can have affect the respiratory system. These Regulations are designed to protect both workers who use the chemicals and also to prevent wider environmental harm.

The Regulations are enforced by the Environment Section of Carlow County Council. For more information on these Regulations contact the Environment Section on 059-9136232 or you can find in the Environment Documents & Forms section of this website.