HOUSEHOLDS are being warned not to throw barbecue ash, disposable barbecues, gas canisters or fuel into normal rubbish bags as warmer weather sparks a rise in garden parties, outdoor cooking and summer clear-outs.
ikiikiMiroslav Radov from Rainbow Rubbish Removals says many people underestimate how dangerous barbecue waste can be once it is mixed with general rubbish.
The warning comes as families across the UK prepare gardens, patios and outdoor spaces for summer, often clearing out sheds, old barbecue equipment, camping gear and leftover fuel at the same time.
Miroslav said: “Barbecue waste is one of the most common fire risks people overlook in summer.
“People will finish cooking, tidy up the garden and assume the ash or disposable barbecue is safe to throw away because it looks cold. But ash and coals can hold heat for hours, and in some cases much longer than people realise.
“If hot ash, charcoal or a disposable barbecue is put into a bin bag, wheelie bin or mixed rubbish pile, it can quickly become a fire risk.”
Rainbow Rubbish Removals is also warning households not to dispose of gas canisters, lighter fluid, batteries, vapes or electrical items in general rubbish during summer clear-outs.
Miroslav added: “The risk in summer clear-outs is not just the volume of waste. It is what is hidden inside it.
“Gas canisters, lighter fluid, batteries, vapes, old electricals, paint and chemicals should never be mixed into general rubbish. These items can create real risks once they are loaded, crushed or processed.
“Just because something fits into a bin bag does not mean it belongs there.”
Items households should never put into normal rubbish bags include:
- Disposable barbecues that have not fully cooled
- Barbecue ash, coals or charcoal
- Gas canisters
- Lighter fluid or fuel
- Lithium batteries
- Disposable vapes
- Power banks
- Small electrical appliances
- Paint, solvents or chemicals
Miroslav says households should let barbecue ash and coals cool completely before disposal and should check local council guidance for gas canisters, electrical waste and hazardous materials.
He said: “The safest thing people can do is separate barbecue waste, fuel and electrical items before they start a clear-out.
“Never hide gas canisters, batteries or fuel inside black bags. Waste teams need to know what they are handling, and the wrong item in the wrong place can put people and property at risk.”
