How to Dispose of Charcoal

When you’re ready to dispose of your charcoal ash, this is the proper way to dispose of it safely.

1. Once you’re done cooking on your charcoal grill, you’ll want to give your coals about 48 hours to sit before disposing of. Hot ash burns at around 500°F and can melt or set your rubbish bin on fire, so always take preventative safety measures when handling hot charcoal.

2. Once the charcoal ash has completely cooled, wrap it in aluminium foil and throw it in the trash. Wrapping the ash in aluminium foil is a necessary precaution, as it prevents the ash from potentially melting your rubbish bin or mixing with other trash that might cause a fire or explosion.

How to Reuse Charcoal

Instead of throwing your charcoal away, there are ways to repurpose it and help reduce your carbon footprint!

1. If using an additive-free wood charcoal, such as our lump charcoal, you can use the charcoal ash as a fertilizer. The ash contains potash, or potassium carbonate, which is a beneficial nutrient for many plants. Potash can also increase the pH levels in your soil, but depending on what’s growing in your garden, you want to use it sparingly. Don’t use charcoal ash with acid-loving plants such as blueberries, azaleas and hydrangeas, nor newly planted seedlings or seeds.

2. With charcoal ash, you can make a spray for around your vegetable garden to help deter beetles and other pests. Mix about one ounce of ash and one ounce of hydrated lime to 3.7L of water and spray around your plants and the perimeter of your garden. Potash can also help deter lice and mites around chicken coops and other outdoor bird cages.

3. You can reduce odours around your house by placing a few pieces of unused charcoal in a perforated bag and place the bag in the refrigerator or freezer. You can also place charcoal inside your shoes, wrapped in a cloth or sock, to reduce odour as well.