REMINDER: Ashes are prohibited at the municipality's green waste collection site

Mar 2, 2023

Despite a recent advisory, people continue to bring wood ashes to the municipality's green waste collection site. The City of Edmundston’s Fire & Safety Department and the St-Joseph Fire Department, remind you that it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to bring any ashes to the green waste collection site, due to the high risk of causing a forest fire and a threat to nearby homes.

Fire risks are also possible if uncooled ashes end up in garbage collection trucks. The draft that occurs during the transfer from the bin to the truck’s dumpster, can revive ashes that seemed to be well extinguished. The same thing can happen in your car when you transport ashes from point A to point B.

Here's how to dispose of ashes safely:

1. Regularly empty the ashes from the fireplace or wood stove
2. Dispose of hot ashes in a closed metal container
3. Place the metal container outside at least 1 m from combustible surfaces (e.g. in the snow)
4. Let the ashes cool for 7 to 14 days MINIMUM
5. Dispose of the cooled ashes in the trash, either in a bag or in a box (ashes are prohibited at the municipality's green waste collection site)
6. It is also possible to recycle the ashes on your lawn in the springtime. However, it is important to follow good recycling practices not to harm the environment

It is essential to follow these steps to avoid any risk of fire.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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Contact: City of Edmundston Fire & Safety Department, 506.739-2117