Drone to be deployed to spot air polluters

A dedicated drone will again fly out over the city to find out what Szczecin’s residents use to power their stoves and to ensure clean air in the city.

The drone is equipped with detectors to measure the air concentration of harmful substances – formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, volatile organic compounds, and PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter – produced when banned materials are being burned in stoves, polluting the air. By using the drone, we are able to pinpoint the source of pollution and send a City Guard patrol, which will check if there is anything wrong and if so, impose a fine on the perpetrator.

The drone operations are carried out by the Tomkov company and the City Guard. Working in tandem, they patrol the city in pre-selected areas, including those reported by residents. Inspections take place at both morning and evening hours.

“Once the drone has detected that the levels of harmful substances are over the limit and pinpointed the source of pollution, City Guard officers step in,” said Joanna Wojtach from the City Guard. “After entering the premises and checking the stove, it often turns out that the problem is in the poor quality of coal or in the incorrect lighting of the stove. When this is the case, we can only talk to and educate the users. However, if we find out that they have been burning any materials banned by law, we give them a fine.”

Here’s a reminder of what you may not use to power your stove:

- polluted wood waste, such as treated and varnished wood;

- materials soaked with chemicals;

-  waste plastic packages and bottles used for beverages, paints, varnishes, lacquers, solvents and other chemicals;

- waste tires and other rubber waste;

-  treated paperboard.