Montreal promises regulation on wood-fired ovens by the end of 2024

Photo: Jacques Grenier Archives Le Devoir Pizzerias and bagel factories use wood-fired ovens in the metropolis.

Jeanne Corriveau

12:20 p.m.

• Montreal

The City of Montreal intends to submit, by the end of the year, a regulation to regulate the use of wood-fired ovens in the commercial sector.

“The regulation of fine particle emissions for cooking appliances used in the commercial sector, therefore, including wood-fired ovens, is planned”, explained Tuesday the person responsible for the environment and of ecological transition to the executive committee, Marie-Andrée Mauger, while answering a question from a citizen during the municipal council meeting.

Since 2018, Montreal has banned the use of residential wood stoves and fireplaces that emit more than 2.5 grams of fine particles per hour. But the City wants to go further and extend the regulation of fine particle emissions to wood-fired ovens in the commercial sector, which could affect pizzerias and bagel factories which still use this type of equipment.

“The pandemic has slowed down the process,” said the elected official. “It is in our planning for 2024 to submit a regulatory project with the Montreal Metropolitan Community. We know the issue of fine particles in transport, industry, and residential homes for which we have regulated. And now the next step is cooking with wood. »

Further details will follow.