Charcoal Disposal Tips

Summer is Here!

A warm summer cookout is filled with friends and laughs. You’re serving up everyone’s favorite on the charcoal grill. burgers, hot dogs, and ribs all cooked to smoky perfection! When clean up time rolls around, how do you safely get rid of your left-over charcoal from the grill? Before throwing away your ash, make sure you know how to best dispose of it with these safe charcoal disposal tips.

Let the Ash Cool

The most important step – make sure that the ash you are handling is not hot! Charcoal burns at around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Ouch! At that temperature, the ash can burn your skin or even start a fire with surrounding vegetation. Hot ash can also melt or set your garbage cart on fire. Always take preventative measures when handling hot charcoal. It is important to let the ash cool for a full 48 hours before handling it.

Regular Disposal

When the ash has completely cooled, go ahead and wrap it in aluminum foil and throw it in the garbage. Wrapping the ash in aluminum foil is necessary because prevents the ash from potentially melting your trash can or mixing with other trash that might cause a fire or explosion.

Reuse

Interested in reducing your carbon footprint? Instead of throwing your charcoal away, find ways to re purpose it. Did you know that if you have additive-free, wood charcoal, it can be used as fertilizer? Charcoal ash contains potash which provides important nutrients to plants. Charcoal ash also increases the pH levels of its surrounding soil. Another way to re purpose your charcoal is by creating a spray to keep pests away. Spraying a combination of ash, lime, and water together can prevent bugs from entering your yard and harming any plants. Lastly, if your ash still has large chunks of charcoal in it, you can use those pieces as the base for your next fire.