There’s a plan to ban all outdoor recreational wood burning in the Dutch city of Arnhem.
This follows a similar ban that has already been enacted in Utrecht.
Arnhem is the capital of the province of Gelderland, and has a population of around 160,000.
According to a news report by regional broadcaster Omroep Gelderland, a city council debate was held on the proposal. If enacted, the ban would take effect at the beginning of next year, and would include fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and wood-burning pizza ovens.
At the meeting, Alderman Eva van Esch presented details about the plan, which would prohibit flues in new-build homes as well.
Ban wood stoves too?
Alderman van Esch said she also wants to see a ban on indoor wood stoves, but that municipal laws make this difficult. She brought up the possibility of lobbying in The Hague for this to happen on a national level.
Very bad for health
According to Omroep Gelderland, these actions are being considered because “wood smoke is very bad for health,” especially for people with lung conditions.
Gerda Eulink of the Wood Smoke Free Foundation (Stichting HoutrookVrij) told the council members that it feels like she is “having a heart attack” when her asthma flares. “I live a healthy life,” she said, “but my body is being destroyed by wood smoke I can’t avoid.”
Parents don’t know they are harming their children
Pediatric pulmonologist Ismé de Kleer also spoke. She said she treats children “for whom breathing is not a given. Wood smoke poses a huge risk to them.” She said there’s still a widespread lack of awareness about wood smoke. “Many parents are not even aware of the harm they are doing to their own children.”
Council moved by wood smoke stories
According to the news program, “The council members present Wednesday evening were visibly moved by all the personal stories.”
One council member, Dennis Weijers, asked Gert Kooij of the Dutch Fireplace and Stove Association why burning wood should continue to take priority over the health problems caused by wood smoke. The industry representative told the council that lighting fires gives people comfort and “contributes to their mental well-being.”
So, council member Muriël Simonis replied, “It’s about wood burners’ enjoyment versus people’s ability to live their lives.”
Kooij, the industry representative, claimed that most complaints from the public are due to outdoor burning, not his industry’s “high quality” wood stoves that meet European regulations.
Official not impressed with “burn better”
Bart Smulders of the Municipal Health Service wasn’t impressed by Kooij’s claims that the answer was to ensure people burn better.
The public health representative explained:
There’s simply no such thing as good wood heating. Wood burning, in any form, is harmful. Burning differently might reduce this, but it won’t solve the problem.
Furthermore, “there’s a danger” that people who think they’re burning wood well will just burn more.
Ecodesign stoves criticized
The news outlet pointed out that modern Ecodesign stoves, “which are supposed to emit less, are also facing considerable criticism.”
The pulmonologist Dr de Kleer said that Ecodesign stoves emit “just as much or even more” ultrafine particles than conventional stoves, “making them at least as harmful.” It was pointed out that the emissions also have an impact on people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Majority favors ban
Alderman van Esch plans to present the proposal for an outdoor wood burning ban to the city council for approval soon. According to Omroep Gelderland, “There appears to be a substantial majority in favor of this.”
