The Kronospan factory is causing a nuisance to residents in the surrounding areas

In the municipality of Sanem, the situation surrounding the Kronospan wood-processing plant has escalated. In recent weeks, there has been a sharp rise in the number of complaints about industrial noise, unpleasant odours and fine wood dust settling in neighbouring residential areas. According to LSAP town councillor Steve Gierenz, since Easter the municipality has been receiving significantly more complaints than in previous years. In response, the local authorities have issued an official statement reminding residents that they can submit complaints directly to the plant’s management, to the Ministry of the Environment, or via the government portal myGuichet.lu.

Municipal representatives are calling on the company to provide more prompt information about operational disruptions, so that the authorities can alert the public in good time and avoid having to request data after the event. Similar demands are being made by the local citizens’ initiative BIGS, whose members met with the company’s management a year ago. 

Last month, for example, excessive noise levels were the main cause for complaint. Subsequently, representatives from Kronospan attributed the incident to a faulty safety valve and announced that a special silencer would be fitted in the first week of August. However, Patricia Arendt, president of the citizens’ initiative and a former municipal councillor for the déi Lénk party, insists on a more systematic approach and the establishment of a supervisory committee. She emphasises that the company has been operating in the region since 1994 and, although problems have existed from the very beginning, the environmental situation has now deteriorated significantly.

As an example of successful corporate engagement, Patricia Arendt cites the collaboration with the steel company ArcelorMittal, noting the high level of transparency in their communication with local communities. To obtain objective data on pollution levels, campaigners propose setting up monitoring stations. Local residents also confirm the need for such measures: one man, who has lived near the plant for around thirty years, reported that conditions are deteriorating with each stage of production expansion. According to him, due to the increased dust levels over the past two years, people are avoiding airing their homes and are concerned for the health of children playing outside, whilst the noise is forcing some to sleep wearing earplugs.

Despite growing public discontent, Kronospan’s management cites official data from the regulatory authorities. A written statement from the company states that following a localised fire which broke out on the factory premises on 12 July, the Environmental Protection Agency carried out an on-site inspection. Following the inspection, the agency found no breaches or deviations from the standards for dust and odour emissions.