Ash, timber offcuts and sawdust can only be disposed of in your red bin. Ash waste needs to be cooled for at least five days as hot ash can cause a fire in the wheelie bin or collection truck. This is to keep our truck drivers and the general public safe.
How to safely dispose of hot ashes
- Let ash cool for at least five days in a metal bucket or container before disposing of it in the red bin, otherwise it may cause a fire.
- Place timber offcuts, sawdust and cold bagged ash only in your red rubbish bin when disposing of it.
- Do not burn treated timber offcuts. When we burn treated timber, it releases large amounts of toxic heavy metals into the air we breathe, and the ash left behind contains 100 times the concentration of toxic heavy metals as the original piece of wood.
Why can't ash go in the green organics bin?
- It can raise the arsenic levels in the compost which means it might end up going to landfill.
- As little as a third of an ice cream container of ash can be enough to contaminate the contents of one whole green bin collection truckload of organics waste.
- If ash gets in there, we can’t get it out, and contaminated compost can’t be added to soil to help grow our food and gardens.
Find an accredited firewood merchant
For a list of firewood suppliers which have been reviewed and accredited by Environment Canterbury please visit Warmer Cheaper(external link)(external link).