In accordance with the current information of the Polish Smog Alarm (PAS) in the Warsaw metropolis is still working over 87,000 high -emission boilers on coal and wood. These estimates were obtained after collecting data from individual municipalities. The exchange of boilers in the capital area goes slowly. Meanwhile, the requirements of the anti -smog act are adamant. In less than three years (at the beginning of 2028) it will be illegal to use the 3 and 4th grade boilers. Even worse quality so -called Cinderella, or non -class boilers, should not be used from the beginning of 2023. And yet many of them still function at its best.
Cinderella is still poisoning. Turtles exchange rate
The Warsaw Metropolis is 70 municipalities and 9 poviats – it is an area of 6,000. km2, inhabited by over 3.3 million people. Many households still use traditional furnaces and boilers to heat, many of which do not meet the adopted environmental requirements. The pace of exchange on newmore ecological heating sources are unfortunately very slow. In 2024, an exchange was made in a metropolitan area Only 2668 Cinderella. According to the values presented by the belt, it was best Warsaw (280 exchanges), then the village commune of Minsk Mazowiecki (149) and Otwock (103). Strachówka and Milanówek were at the gray end (5 exchanges each) and Podkowa Leśnawhere not a single boiler was replaced. If such a pace persists, the whole operation of switching to new heat sources would take on average … 47 years.
What is the reason for the delays in the exchange?
The inventory of boilers showed that municipalities located east of the Vistula have a greater problem with the exchange. In the Warsaw Functional Area, covering 39 communes, The number of Cinderella has dropped from 41518 to 34145. Paradoxically, however, by as much as 63 percent. The number of 3 and 4th grade boilers increased, although they will not be legal soon. Why does the exchange turn out to be so complicated?
This is a very difficult question. Poverty may be the reason. In Warsaw, the exchange of boilers took place quite dynamically, but the Warsaw metropolis is also rural municipalities, there are often less wealthy people. The fear of war in Ukraine may also have an impact here, because the uncertain geopolitical situation does not encourage major changes
– says next.gazeta.pl Piotr Sergei, spokesman for the Polish Smog Alarm. – in some towns and rural communes, it also burns with wood obtained from its own forestor orchard, which significantly reduces heating costs – he adds.
When will we say goodbye to smog?
Most boilers to replace is located in the commune Wołomin (4786), in the rural commune Minsk Mazowiecki (4408), Nasielsk (3506) I Fat (3285). The capital itself is only in 19th position (1510 to replace). They are the least in Podkowa Leśna (47), Pruszków (165) and Michałowice (219). However, this does not translate into the speed of exchange, which is very diverse. Pruszków (less than 4 years) and Warsaw (5.4 years) look best here. The village commune of Minsk Mazowiecki (2nd place in the number of boilers) is doing quite well, in which the forecast exchange rate is less than 30 years. However, already leading in a shameful statement Wołomin is up to 114 years oldand the aforementioned Podkowa Leśna is not in the ranking at all (not a single boiler was replaced last year).
Is there a chance that the speed of all this operation increases? – Whether the pace increases depends the most on the attitude of municipal offices, the Clean Air program and how this program can be combined with municipalities – explains Piotr Sergei. – Because it is the municipalities in the new installment of the program that will be its operators. The question is how to dynamically this municipalities will be done. The activity of the boiler replacement also translates into the activity of ecodoraders who would encourage the undecided, showing the benefits of exchange. It is also important to pay attention to the issue of home warming – also in this case the Clean Air program is crucial – says the expert.
The chances of farewell to smog quickly seem small. If the replacement of old boilers will proceed at the same pace as it is today, it will be difficult to improve the air quality in the predictable future
believes Piotr Sergei.
After all, it is impossible to easily combine the situation in the capital agglomeration to “Smog epicenter” from a few years ago, so Krakowwhere the air quality has improved significantly. – It is hard to compare. Both areas differ in size, number of municipalities and location. The translation of the exchange of boilers in nearby towns into the cleanliness of the air in Krakow is very high. Krakow is located in the valley, so smoke from nearby municipalities flows into the city. Not necessarily the same situation is in the case of Warsaw – larger distances from municipalities and a flat area and different actions of local governments make it a completely different picture – explains the expert from the Pas.
Decrease in exchange rate
Year -on -year statistics is not homogeneous, and the exchange rate dropped by as much as 35 percent. compared to 2024. The municipalities of Góra Kalwaria, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Podkowa Leśna, Milanówek and Wołomin recorded significantly. In the last Lesznowola, the decrease in the rate of exchange is three times! However, there is also an optimistic accent. In some municipalities (Łomianki, Legionowo, Ząbki, Marki, Otwock, Karczew and Żyrardów) the current exchange occurs faster. Certainly residents do not underestimate the problem. Anna Goreń, a senior PR and CSR specialist in the Work group cooperating with the Polish smog alarm, says: – Our research clearly shows that as much as 88 percent. Employees recognize the impact of air quality on their well -being and efficiency at work. Smog is not a distant problem – it concerns us here and now. We want to contribute to reducing pollution and increase awareness about the actions that can be taken to improve air quality.