Help Prevent Truck Fires and Protect the Environment

As temperatures heat up this summer the local Waste Management team of the Inland Empire is urging communities to practice proper disposal of cooled barbecue coals and of materials that should never be placed in trash, recycling, green waste containers to help prevent heat related cart and collection truck fires.

"While summer is a wonderful time of the year to gather around the grill with friends and family, it can easily turn dangerous if proper handling and disposal of coals and pool chemicals is not followed," said Steevie Bereiter, Area Safety Manager for Waste Management. “Because safety is our top priority, we are asking community members to follow safe disposal practices in order to keep their loved ones and our drivers safe.”

Just as those coals helped to get the fire started in a barbecue, they can also start a fire inside trash containers or, once emptied into the back of a truck, ignite the materials around it. To properly dispose of coals:

• Always allow for coals/ashes to cool for at least 48 hours in the grill, 72 hours for extra precaution before placing them in the trash.
• Never place coals/ashes in recycling or green waste containers.

“Pool chemicals as well as other common household hazardous wastes such as batteries, oil, aerosol cans and household cleaners can also spark fires in carts or trucks,” adds Bereiter. “These materials require special handling and should never be disposed of in trash, recycling or green waste containers.”

County of Riverside residents can conveniently dispose of Household Hazardous Waste at no cost through the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources’ Regional Permanent & Temporary HHW Collection Facilities. For information visit their website: http://www.rcwaste.org/hhw

“By taking these extra steps to ensure proper disposal of cooled barbecue coals and common household hazardous waste, we can ensure the safety of our community and our team of dedicated drivers.”