Disposing ashes / coals in an urban setting

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
arkyheat1

arkyheat1

Member
Aug 21, 2014
23
arkansas
It's been cold enough the last week that I've gotten to burn 24/7 for about 4 days straight. Problem is that I'm now needing to empty out ashes from an ash bed that still has lots of small coals and dispose of them somehow.

I live inner city with no property/land. Don't want to trust that dumping water in my ash bucket will solve the problem before those ashes go to my curbside trash can!

Thoughts? Equipment suggestions? My ash bucket right now is big enough to get me through about 8-10 re-loads of the stove before the ash bed fills up too much and something has to give.
 
Metal can with a lid placed on a non combustible surface outside. Maybe 2 of them if you're going to burn 24 /7. Fill one, let it sit while you fill the other, then put it out for trash after it has sat dormant for a few weeks. No need to set the trash truck on fire, coals can stay hot for days when buried in ash.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkyheat1
Metal trash can to hold ashes from ash bucket. Put the trash can on concrete or pavers, empty the trash can once a year. Don't forget to put bricks or something heavy on the trash can lid.

b014ddea-3ba7-46d8-8d2f-4da2e9527840_400.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkyheat1
Have you thought about an ad on Craigslist in the FREE section? Some gardeners may desire those ashes. I also remember that ashes are good at acting as a barrier for ants.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkyheat1
I second the idea of having two ash buckets. That's the system I use. I use five gallon metal buckets with lids. When one is full I set it aside while I fill the next one. By the time that one is full the first one has been sitting for more than a week and my ashes are safely cooled off. However, I should mention that I have an ash drawer, so I don't get any large coals in with my ashes. If I did, then I would want more than a week to assure there was nothing hot enough to start a fire when I disposed of the ashes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkyheat1
RickBlaine said:
Have you thought about an ad on Craigslist in the FREE section? Some gardeners may desire those ashes. I also remember that ashes are good at acting as a barrier for ants.
Click to expand...
Yes, Rick! I've let members of my neighborhood association know that I've constantly got ashes available to give away. Problem is they don't want to think about gardening in the winter. I like the big storage can idea so I can let the entire winter burn fill up one spot, then they'll be nice and ready for their gardens when planting starts in March.
 
I have a metal trash can that I fill up and when there are not any hot coals I put out for the garbage man. Let the metal can sit for about a week just make sure there is nothing hot in there put in a trash bag then throw away. Be careful and don't put in a plastic can or leave the trash bag full of ash out by itself always put in the metal can you will be fine.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
Vermont Casting question and concerns
Replies
8
Views
1K
Vermont Castings
Woodsplitter67
Woodsplitter67
C
Creative ideas for ash disposal in yard
Replies
47
Views
6K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
bigealta
Oil fired Old coal burning boiler replacement options?
Replies
8
Views
608
The Boiler Room - Wood Boilers and Furnaces
bigealta
bigealta
N
Damper and air supply experience and experiment - NC30
Replies
23
Views
2K
SBI: Century,Drolet,Osburn,Valcourt,Englander
weee123
weee123
A
How to add an ash dump
Replies
54
Views
5K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
margomonk
margomonk
Top Bottom
Back