Materials such as rechargeable batteries, propane and oxygen tanks, butane lighters, ashes from fireplaces and barbecue grills, and other types of hazardous materials are capable of starting fires when
- mixed in loads of waste and picked up by refuse collection trucks
- waste is transported in rail cars on the way to waste processing or disposal facilities; and while
- waste is being processed at Montgomery County’s Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station or at the Resource Recovery Facility
Therefore, 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)
- Rechargeable batteries (which contain heavy metals, including lithium, nickel cadmium or lead-acid)
- Ashes (from fireplaces, fire pits or barbecue grills) – more information on proper disposal of ashes from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (PDF)
- Unknown substances (will be managed as Household Hazardous Waste)
These items should be properly disposed through Montgomery County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, or other special collection processes available at the Montgomery County Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, located at 16101 Frederick Road in Derwood.
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