Lack Of Communication
Complaints about dust, noise, and odour linked to the Kronospan wood-processing plant in Sanem have intensified in recent weeks, prompting both residents and officials to demand more transparency and action from the company.
The municipality of Sanem recently issued a statement reporting a spike in complaints from citizens, particularly regarding noise, unpleasant smells, and fine wood dust in the area surrounding the factory. The situation, while not new, appears to be worsening.
According to local alderman Steve Gierenz, the Sanem local authority has received far more complaints about disturbances from the plant since Easter than in previous years. The municipality's letter reminded residents that they can officially report concerns directly to Kronospan, the Ministry of the Environment, or by filing an administrative complaint via myGuichet.lu.
Gierenz said they have regular exchanges with Kronospan to get answers regarding residents' complaints, noting that he wishes Kronospan's response would come quicker. Ideally, the company would let them know immediately when there is an issue, so that they could relay information promptly to residents instead of always chasing them for updates.
Members of the Sanem citizens' initiative (BIGS) have echoed calls for improved communication. The group, which met with company representatives a year ago, previously urged Kronospan to inform the community promptly when problems arise.
Last month, excessive noise was the main grievance. The company later explained that a faulty safety valve was to blame, adding that they installed a silencer during the first week of August to address the issue.
Patricia Arendt, president of the citizens' initiative, is now calling for closer cooperation, notably through establishing an oversight committee. She notes that Kronospan has operated here since 1994, and while problems have been there from the very beginning, they are now far worse. She compares the cooperation with ArcelorMittal, with which communication and transparency work very well, and suggests a monitoring station be installed to provide hard data and enable immediate action.
A local resident who has lived near the Kronospan site for 30 years confirms that conditions have deteriorated with each expansion of the plant. On his street, some people now have to sleep with earplugs. Dust has worsened over the past two years, making it nearly impossible to air out the house without having to clean everything afterwards. He worries about his grandchildren playing in the garden and breathing in the dust.