Bruch district, all united for quality of life and environmental transparency
The City of Esch, ArcelorMittal and the Interessenveräin Bruch Esch-Uelzecht are joining forces around a common goal: to sustainably improve the quality of life in the Bruch district while supporting the environmental transformation of the ArcelorMittal industrial site.
This exemplary collaboration, based on dialogue, listening and transparency, is a continuation of collective work undertaken over several years.
A concrete solution to reduce dust emissions
Following comments made by residents regarding the presence of white dust in the area, ArcelorMittal has implemented a significant technical solution: the dumping of white slag is now carried out inside a closed hall.
This measure, designed in collaboration with the City of Esch, significantly reduces dust dispersion in the surrounding area. It also contributes to a decrease in noise and light pollution, directly improving the quality of life for local residents.
*« This progress is the result of constructive dialogue between residents, the city, and businesses. It demonstrates that a participatory approach can lead to concrete solutions that benefit everyone.» *
Meris Šehović, Esch elderman
An industrial site committed to environmental transformation
Located in the heart of the city, ArcelorMittal’s industrial facilities in Esch-sur-Alzette are among the pilot territories of the European Intelligent City Challenge (ICC) program, launched by the European Commission. This program supports the ecological and digital transition of industrial cities by promoting collaboration between public, economic, and citizen stakeholders. Within this framework, ArcelorMittal recently hosted a delegation of representatives from neighborhoods, government ministries, and local stakeholders to present the concrete actions already undertaken:
- Reduction of dust emissions through the containment of operations related to white slag;
- Acoustic measurement campaign to identify noise sources and define appropriate mitigation measures;
- Photovoltaic project: upcoming commissioning of a 2.3 MW power plant dedicated to self-consumption, illustrating the site’s commitment to the energy transition.
« ArcelorMittal Luxembourg Long Products is continuing its transformation to reduce its environmental footprint and actively contribute to the energy transition. These concrete actions demonstrate our commitment to integrating our activities harmoniously into their urban environment. » — Pierre Jacobs, CEO ArcelorMittal Long Products Luxembourg.
An exemplary partnership between citizens, industry and public authorities
The City of Esch and the Interessenveräin Bruch Esch-Uelzecht commend the quality of the dialogue established over many years through "third-party" meetings. This participatory approach has fostered a lasting relationship of trust between residents, economic stakeholders, and institutions.
« We are pleased to be listened to and to be able to contribute our perspective. The collaborative work undertaken with the City and ArcelorMittal demonstrates that open dialogue can produce concrete and positive results for the life of the neighborhood.» — Francis Hengen from Interessenveräin Bruch Esch-Uelzecht
Next steps: transparency and continuous improvement
The partners are committed to maintaining this momentum over the long term. The next steps include:
- finalizing the acoustic assessment and sharing the results with stakeholders;
- organizing another meeting in the first quarter of 2026 to monitor progress on the commitments made;
- implementing communication and transparency tools, enabling residents to track the site’s environmental indicators.
This collaboration reflects a shared vision of a region where industrial heritage and ecological transition are mutually reinforcing.
« Esch has always been able to evolve with the times. Today, our ambition is to reconcile its industrial history with a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.» — Christian Weis, Mayor of the City of Esch