Tips For Safe Disposal Of BBQ Coals, Fireworks From Waste Management

Puget SouND Region — July 1, 2011 – With family barbeques and neighborhood parties in full swing for the Fourth of July weekend and throughout the summer, Waste Management urges customers to keep safety and sustainability in mind.  

Safe Disposal of BBQ Coals

Proper disposal of barbecue coals can make summer safer for you, your neighbors and your local WM team.

“Just as those coals helped to start the fire in your barbecue, they can also start a fire in your garbage container or in the back of our trucks,” said Emily Newcomer, public education manager for Waste Management. “Coals that appear to be cool can create an unsafe situation for you, your neighbors and our employees. Coals can stay hot for hours or even days after you have finished using them.”

Coals or ashes fresh from the barbecue should never be disposed directly into your garbage cart. Waste Management urges customers to allow coals and ashes to cool for several days in the barbecue or a metal container. To speed up the cooling process, you may carefully place coals in a metal container full of water to “drown” them as you would a campfire.

Once the material is entirely cool, place in a bag and then in your garbage cart – not your food/yard waste cart. 

Safe Disposal of Fireworks 

• ·         Fireworks require special handling after the celebration. The National Council on Fireworks Safety advises soaking used fireworks in water for 15 minutes before disposal. Dispose of all fireworks debris, used matches, wrappers, etc., in your garbage cart to prevent littering and water contamination from gunpowder residue.
• ·         Be sure to keep fireworks debris out of your recycling cart. With children and out-of-town guests helping clean up at the end of a long day, fireworks debris sometimes ends up in recycling carts by mistake. This contaminates recyclable materials, meaning that they may end up at the landfill rather than the recycling center.

Greening Up Your Event

• Each year, Americans toss out enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons to circle the equator 300 times. To reduce this waste, the greenest solution is to use reusable dishware. If that is not an option, buy tableware that is compostable or at least made of recycled material. If it is compostable, toss it in your food/yard waste cart at the end of the day.  

• Be sure to provide convenient, clearly marked containers for recyclables, food waste and garbage. When the event is over, take a quick look inside to make sure materials ended up in the right containers.
• Think locally when planning your menu. Shipping ingredients from another part of the world requires a tremendous amount of fuel. Look to your local farmers' market for in-season fruits and vegetables, as well as meat, eggs, and dairy products.

• ·         Use aluminum foil instead of plastic wrap to cover and store food. When done with the foil, save it to use later, or rinse and toss it into your recycling cart.
• ·         Scrap the traditional paper party invitations and go digital! Online invitations are often free, and always more sustainable.
• ·         Encourage guests to car pool; it helps save time, money and the environment.

For recycling tips and a complete list of what is recyclable in your area, go to www.wmnorthwest.com.

*Information provided by Waste Management.