Press Release


No hot ash in the trash!
Waste Management provides summer tips to keep hot barbecue coals out of the trash and contaminants out of recycling


Ventura County, July 13, 2006 – Summer has arrived…the grills are fired up and the backyard barbecues and pool parties are in full swing. Summertime activities can pose challenges for trash disposal and recycling, and so Waste Management is providing some useful reminders to encourage safe disposal and convenient recycling, both indoors and in the yard.

Barbeque coals or ashes should never be put directly into a garbage container. They should be cooled for several days in a location safely away from combustibles, put in a metal container with a tight lid, and then put in the garbage. Never put hot items in plastic, paper or wood containers.

To speed up the cooling process, carefully place coals in a metal container full of water to “drown” them like a campfire. The water must be drained off before they are put in the garbage.

“Just as coals help start the fire in your barbecue, they can also start a fire in your trash container or ignite the materials in the collection truck,” according to Michael E. Smith, Market Area Manager Waste Management. “Coals can stay hot for days. Even though they appear to be cool, they may still start a fire in the garbage container or collection truck, jeopardizing safety for residents and collection employees.”

Summertime also means increased gardening activity. It is important to put only compostable yard trimmings in yard carts, and keep non-compostables like plastic bags and potting containers out of the yard waste. “Contamination in yard waste increases the cost of processing and can reduce the quality of the compost product. When you buy a bag of compost to enrich the soil in your yard, you want only compost—not bits and pieces of plastic” said Smith.

Waste Management suggests these tips to help keep on the “recycling track” while enjoying the summer:

  • Keep all plastic, metal and other garbage our of yard waste.
  • Keep a separate container for recyclables such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles and cardboard conveniently close to each garbage container, whether in the kitchen, patio, picnic site, or garage.
  • Empty food and beverage containers before putting them in the recycling.
“We appreciate our customers’ continued partnership in keeping our community clean and preserving natural resources by recycling,” said Smith. “We know summer is a fun and busy time, and we hope these simple tips will help keep recycling a priority.”

Waste Management, Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. For more information about recycling, log onto www.KeepingVenturaCountyClean.com.

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