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Can you put ashes and coals in a dumpster?

Covers: Ashes, coals and hot materials

No

Short answer: Never while warm. Hot ashes start dumpster and truck fires.

Why

Bagster lists hot materials as unacceptable. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue says to put ashes in a metal container with a metal lid, dampen them, and never dump them until they've cooled for at least four days.

What to do with them instead

Cool ashes in a covered metal can for several days and wet them before disposal.

Sources

  1. Bagster - Products & Services (capacity, acceptable/unacceptable materials)
  2. Fairfax County Fire & Rescue - Can Your Ashes (PDF)

Checked October 2026. Rules change; your hauler's prohibited-items list is the final word.

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