Correct sorting of waste and the choice of fire-safe waste containers will improve fire safety. Burning or smouldering waste material must not be placed together with other waste material. Cigarette butts and ash shall be sorted into mixed waste for landfill disposal once they are cold, completely non-smouldering and appropriately packed. Ash should be packed into a tight bag, for example, before taking it to a mixed waste container.
The risk of arson becomes lower if outsiders cannot have access to the waste. The methods include fencing and locking the waste shelter or the yard area and locating the waste collection points correctly. It is also crucial to pay attention to the everyday use of the waste point by avoiding loose waste and taking care of closing the waste containers. Put landfill waste into a mixed waste container. Do not bury your waste or litter the environment.
Waste containers must be placed so that fire cannot spread
For the sake of safety, individual waste containers no larger than 600 litres must be located at least four metres from the wall of a building so that a fire cannot spread from the containers to the building. The precautionary guidelines of insurance companies specify the safe distances for waste containers in more detail.
It is not recommended to burn waste
It is not recommended to burn waste at recreational homes because the combustion temperature is usually not high enough, and combustion is not complete. Small-scale combustion of waste, particularly certain plastics and food leftovers, generate harmful emissions due to low temperature. Waste can also become fused onto the fire grate. Some combustion gases may deteriorate the chimney.
Waste can usually only be burned at a sufficiently high temperature in supervised conditions at power plants. The quality of burnable waste is precisely defined as well.
Open burning of waste is prohibited in built-up areas
It is usually prohibited to burn garden waste, twigs, branches and leaves in built-up areas. Open burning is also considered to include burning in a barrel or similar container.
When burning garden waste, prepare to extinguish the fire
The burning of non-toxic burnable waste from gardening, such as twigs and branches, is allowed outside built-up areas in compliance with municipal environmental protection and waste management regulations, provided that the fire cannot spread to the surrounding terrain. Always make preparations for extinguishing when using open fire.
Check the municipal environmental protection and waste management regulations before burning any waste. You should contact the rescue authorities with regard to the burning of garden waste.