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, a situation that, while not new, appears to be worsening.
According to Steve Gierenz, an alderman for the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), the Sanem local authority has received far more complaints about disturbances from the plant since Easter than in previous years. In response, 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.
The municipality also encourages residents to keep them informed about any issues, so local officials can follow up with Kronospan and support residents throughout the complaints process. Gierenz said they have regular exchanges with Kronospan to get answers regarding residents' complaints, noting that he wishes Kronospan's response would come quicker.
He elaborates that, ideally, Kronospan 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 among residents. 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 and former local councillor for The Left (Déi Lénk), 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.
Arendt compares the cooperation with ArcelorMittal, with which communication and transparency work very well. She suggests a monitoring station be installed, given the well-known dust problem, as that would provide hard data and enable immediate action.
A local man who has lived near the Kronospan site for 30 years confirms that conditions have deteriorated with each expansion of the plant. He told RTL that on his street, some people now have to sleep with earplugs, adding that dust has also worsened over the past two years.
He regrets that now it is nearly impossible to air out the house, because afterwards you have to clean everything again. The resident also adds that he has grandchildren who play in the garden and breathe in the dust, worrying whether that creates any adverse health impacts.
In a written statement, Kronospan said that following a fire at the plant on 12 July, the Environmental Agency conducted an on-site inspection and found no irregularities relating to dust or odour emissions.
