Sacramento, California – As Memorial Day approaches and warmer weather draws more residents outdoors, City officials are reminding households that fire prevention can begin with something as simple as careful trash disposal.
Backyard grilling, holiday gatherings and seasonal cleanup can all bring extra waste, but some materials should never be tossed away casually. The City’s Recycling and Solid Waste Division is urging residents to use caution with charcoal briquettes, lighter fluid, propane tanks and other items that can become dangerous if placed in the wrong container.
“We want everyone to have a safe holiday,” said Jesa David, spokesperson for the Division. “Fires can start in the truck or at the sorting facility, so we urge residents to take care when disposing of hot or hazardous materials.”
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The main concern is charcoal that still holds heat after grilling. Even briquettes that appear harmless can spark trouble if they are placed in a garbage container before they are completely cold. City officials say charcoal briquettes must be fully extinguished before disposal.
One safe option is to spread the hot coals apart after grilling and leave them overnight until they are cold. Residents looking for a quicker method can soak the briquettes for at least 20 minutes to an hour. After that, the soaked briquettes should be placed in a container or wrapped in a non-combustible material such as aluminum foil before going into the garbage.
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Most charcoal briquettes belong in the garbage container. However, some briquettes made from natural materials and without chemical byproducts may be placed in the organic waste container, along with food scraps.
Other common warm-weather items require even more care. Charcoal lighter fluid and propane tanks are considered household hazardous waste and should never be placed in garbage containers. Leftover lighter fluid should remain in its original container and be taken to a hazardous waste facility. Empty propane tanks should also be brought to the household hazardous waste facility.
The facility is open Tuesday through Saturday and accepts items such as batteries, paint, pesticides, household cleaners and electronic waste for free disposal.
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City waste collection services will continue on the normal schedule on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
More information about recycling, garbage collection and safe disposal options is available at www.sacrecycle.org.