Reduce the Risk for Trash Fires

Materials improperly placed into the trash can be significant fire hazards, capable of starting fires when:

• mixed in loads of waste in refuse collection trucks,
• on rail cars on the way to waste processing and disposal facilities, or
• while waste is being processed at Montgomery County’s Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station or Resource Recovery Facility.

 

Reduce Risk of Trash Fires with Proper Battery Disposal

 

Improperly Disposed Batteries can Start Trash Fires

 

Gas Tanks and Cylinders

 

To reduce the risk for trash fires, do not place the following materials in your trash:

• Flammable or combustible liquids (such as gasoline, oil-based paints, or kerosene)
• Hazardous materials (including items such as ammonia, bleach, pool chemicals, pesticides, paint thinners, etc.)
• Canisters containing propellants (including butane or propane)
• Cylinders containing compressed gas (such as propane, helium, oxygen, acetylene or fire extinguishers)
• Batteries (alkaline and rechargeable batteries which contain heavy metals, including lithium, nickel cadmium or lead-acid)
• Ashes (from fireplaces, fire pits or barbeque grills) – more information on proper disposal of ashes from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service
• Charcoal and used charcoal bags (containing flammable agents)
• Unknown substances (will be managed as Household Hazardous Waste)

When these types of items are mixed or come in contact with other materials in the trash, the combination can be volatile and catch fire.

Properly dispose these items through the Montgomery County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program, or other special collection processes available at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station.