15.12.2025 16:50
In Edirne's Keşan district, where air quality has reached critical levels, the Hygiene Council convened and made new decisions to prevent air pollution. Accordingly, the burning of coal bags has been banned, and the entry of coal into the district will be regulated after inspections, with open sales of coal prohibited. On days with high air pollution, it has been decided that stoves and heaters can only be lit after 10:00 AM and before 4:00 PM.
In the Keşan district of Edirne, the air pollution rate, which has been significantly reduced due to the widespread use of natural gas and increased coal inspections, has reached risky levels.
PARTICULATE MATTER LIMIT VALUE INCREASED MORE THAN 5 TIMES In Keşan, with a population of approximately 85,000 and an increase in natural gas usage, the sudden drops in air temperature and inversion periods have also led to an increase in air pollution. While air quality in the district is declining; according to the latest data from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, an increase in particulate matter levels affecting air quality has been observed. According to these data, the particulate matter limit value set by the World Health Organization at 50 micrograms per cubic meter has increased more than 5 times to reach 285, reaching 'bad' levels.
"ADD 4% LIME" SUGGESTION The District Hygiene Council convened under the chairmanship of Keşan District Governor Aziz Mercan and made decisions to prevent air pollution. According to the decision made by the District Hygiene Council, warning labels stating that it is harmful and prohibited for companies to burn coal bags will be written on the bags, and it was stated that 4% lime would be added to local coals by the producing company before bagging. It was emphasized that "The use of coal bags printed or prepared in previous periods is prohibited. Old bags must be placed inside new bags containing the principles specified in this decision or the new bag principles must be ensured through printing or gluing, etc. The producer, importer, marketer, and packaging facility owner are jointly and severally responsible for the bagging principles. The responsibility must be included in the contractual texts. If the importer or producer cannot bag at their own facility, they must make an agreement or contract with real or legal persons who own a bagging facility and carry out the bagging process and obtain permission from the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. The producer, importer, marketer, and packaging facility owner are jointly and severally responsible for the compliance of the bagged coal with the characteristics specified in the Local Environmental Board decision. The responsibility must be included in the contractual texts. The label information on the bag and the warning label 'Burning bags is harmful and prohibited' must be written in a contrasting color to the bag color and in large fonts. Bags must be closed in a way that cannot be reused for the second time by sewing or thermal processing. It is recommended that 4% lime be added to local coals by the producing company before bagging. Local and imported coal producers are obliged to ensure the collection, recycling, and recovery of the empty coal bags that arise and to cover the costs to be incurred for this purpose," it was stated.
"TYPE EMISSION CERTIFICATE" WILL BE REQUIRED The District Hygiene Council decided that vehicles bringing local coal to Keşan would enter after having the necessary checks done by coal inspection officials at the control point established at the bus station entrance, and that open coal sales would not be allowed. In the announced decision, it was stated that "Coal producers are responsible for preventing the use of the coal's quantity, quality, brand, and bag by others, starting from the first stage of production to the final consumption stage, and for the recycling of the bag. According to the Regulation on the Control of Air Pollution Caused by Heating, a 'Type Emission Certificate' will be required for burning facilities produced and offered for sale since January 1, 2006. The principles regarding burning systems in the Regulation on the Control of Air Pollution Caused by Heating will be ensured to be complied with. Those who will work in the burning of boiler furnaces and maintenance of boilers must participate in the authorized boiler operator courses organized by the Provincial Directorate of National Education and obtain a Fireman Certificate. It is prohibited for one fireman to burn more than two boilers in one building or to burn boilers in more than one building if the total number of apartments exceeds 30. Burning empty coal bags and throwing them into the environment is prohibited. Bags will be collected separately by consumers and site managers and will be kept ready for collection by the selling company. In areas within the municipal boundaries, the relevant municipalities are authorized to inspect the burning systems, the fuels offered for sale, and the documents of the sellers," it was stated.
HEATERS AND BOILERS WILL BE BURNED AT THE LOWEST LEVEL In the decision, it was noted that the municipalities would form inspection teams to ensure that fuels that are not permitted and do not meet the specified characteristics are not used, and to carry out necessary controls and inspections during the distribution of fuels, entry into residential areas, sales, and final usage stages. It was stated that "Coal inspection teams will immediately be assisted by law enforcement forces if they request help from the relevant District Police Department and Gendarmerie Command teams, chiefs, and managers. Inspections will be carried out by the District Gendarmerie Command teams at appropriate points from the exit of coal trucks from the mine site until they reach the district centers. The distribution of coal to needy citizens determined by the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation will be carried out according to the standards specified in the 'Presidential Decision on Providing Heating Coal Aid to Needy Families' published in the Official Gazette on December 30, 2018, and the Regulation on the Control of Air Pollution Caused by Heating, and applications will be made to the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to take coal samples before the distribution of coal, and the distribution of coals found suitable based on the analysis results will be ensured. If the 24-hour SO² average is 125 µg/m³, in addition to the measures that need to be taken, during days of high air pollution, stoves and heaters will be prohibited from being used until 10 a.m.
It will be burned after 00:00 and before 16:00 in the evening. When air pollution levels (SO² value exceeds 350 µg/m³ hourly) increase, necessary warnings will be made by the municipality through announcements to ensure that chronic patients, children, and especially individuals with asthma and respiratory diseases do not go outside. Heating systems and boiler furnaces that cannot technically be extinguished will be burned at the minimum level. Citizens will report their information and complaints regarding air pollution to the relevant district and town municipality phone numbers. In the event that ash and slag from heating boilers are found to be dumped in random places, legal action will be taken by the relevant municipality. During inspections, those who do not comply with the decisions of the Local Environmental Board, do not present the required documents, do not have their chimneys cleaned, burn more than the specified number of boilers, do not have the specified characteristics, and produce, sell, and use solid fuels without documentation will be subject to penal action according to the relevant articles of the Environmental Law No. 2872 amended by Law No. 5491, Articles 181 and 182 of the Turkish Penal Code, the Municipal Law, and the relevant provisions of the Law on Misdemeanors No. 5326," it was stated.