A proposed mandate in New York City is asking restaurants install emission-control devices to replace wood and coal stoves.
QUICK FACTS:
- A proposed edict by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in New York City would force restaurants to replace wood and coal stoves with expensive emission-controlled devices in their kitchens.
- “All New Yorkers deserve to breathe healthy air and wood and coal-fired stoves are among the largest contributors of harmful pollutants in neighborhoods with poor air quality,” DEP spokesman Ted Timbers claimed in a statement.
- The department is challenging pizzerias to reduce their emissions by 75%, requiring owners to install costly emission-control devices in their restaurants.
- “This common-sense rule, developed with restaurant and environmental justice groups, requires a professional review of whether installing emission controls is feasible,” Timbers said of the proposed mandate.
- Restaurant owners in New York said the move would “cost a fortune” and ruin the quality taste of the food they create.
- “This is an unfunded mandate and it’s going to cost us a fortune—not to mention ruining the taste of the pizza—totally destroying the product,” one pizza shop owner in the city claimed.
- “That pipe, that chimney, it’s that size to create the perfect updraft, keeps the temp perfect. It’s an art as much as a science. You take away the char—the thing that makes the pizza taste great—you kill it,” he continued.
CUSTOMER SAAVI SHARMA ON NEW YORK CITY’S PROPOSED MANDATE TO RID THE CITY’S RESTAURANTS OF WOOD-FIRED OVENS:
“I’m all for responsible environmental practice but tell Al Gore to take one less private jet or something. Give me a break!” Sharma said.
BACKGROUND:
- In April 2023, climate protesters spray painted graffiti on Citigroup Inc and Bank of America offices in New York’s Bryant Park, accusing the banks of being “climate criminals.”
- “The largest banks in the world invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new fossil fuel infrastructure,” one of the protesters said. “I’m not generally a person that likes to go out in the street and do things like this, but I have grandkids and I’m terrified for their future.”
- Protesters vandilized the headquarters of the biggest U.S. banks before their annual general meetings at the time, including Citigroup in New York, Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina and Wells Fargo in San Francisco.
- The protests were reportedly planned to pressure major banks to commit to stopping funding for new fossil fuel projects.
- In the United Kingdom, homeowners who violate air pollution rules on wood-burning stoves could face thousands of dollars in “on-the-spot” fines and even a criminal record after the government promised to clamp down on older appliances.
- First-time fines can range from £175 ($240) to £300 ($413) and apply to London, Birmingham, Manchester, and many other U.K. towns and cities.
- The government is instructing authorities to use powers under the 2021 Environment Act to issue civil penalties.
