Rice coal disposal

Renee52301 · Post by **Renee52301** » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 5:07 am

Hi I live in Tobyhanna pa and I’m wondering what’s the best way to dispose of used coal as I live in an HOA and this is the main source of heat in the home. It seems I can bag only some and put it in the trash as they won’t take it if it’s too heavy. Thanks guys

nut · Post by **nut** » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 10:13 am

Stockpile it and put it in the garbage all year round little at a time? Find a property owner that can throw it over a bank? Someone with a long driveway might use it in the winter.

lincolnmania · Post by **lincolnmania** » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 10:14 am

Ask your township road department if they want the ash. When I lived in coal country they used to pick up our ash once a week and use it on the roads in the winter.

Sunny Boy · Post by **Sunny Boy** » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 9:17 pm

It is wonderful spread on gravel driveways. Locks the stones together yet drains quickly when it rains.

Some use it to improve garden soil.

In addition to my gravel driveway, I spread it on the lawn where we sometimes have to drive on it. It firms up the soil nicely and no more ruts from tires, even when it's rained a lot - yet the grass grows right up through it just fine.

Paul

davidmcbeth3 · Post by **davidmcbeth3** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 3:28 am

How about getting a 2nd garbage can .. surely some people produce more waste than others and would need a second bin.

c&t coal · Post by **c&t coal** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 11:17 am

Not good for the garden. Contains lead, arsenic, mercury and chromium.

mozz · Post by **mozz** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 11:40 am

c&t coal wrote: ↑
Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 11:17 am
Not good for the garden. Contains lead, arsenic, mercury and chromium.

Can you give us a reference to that? It may contain those but in very small trace amounts. Apple seeds contain arsenic.

c&t coal · Post by **c&t coal** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 12:21 pm

www.epa.gov coalash

mozz · Post by **mozz** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 2:11 pm

Thanks, will read up on it.

pintoplumber · Post by **pintoplumber** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 2:24 pm

Seems like the ash disposal they’re referencing is from power plants, not what we’re burning.

c&t coal · Post by **c&t coal** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 4:25 pm

That's true, I don't think you and I will ever produce enough ash to be a problem. I just don't think I want it in my garden next to my beets & carrots. That said, however, I do use manure, so maybe I don't have much credibility on this subject. L.O.L.

davidmcbeth3 · Post by **davidmcbeth3** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 4:49 pm

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26764133/

This study seems to imply that coal ash is no more harmful than concrete.

Total metal and available metal are different animals.

There are many test methods that examine total v. available for chemicals.

Ash is non-hazardous waste last I looked.

Would I use it in a garden ? No. No reason to. I would presume it would change the pH of the soil..so if its good or bad is going to be a case by case examination...and there is lime and other stuff better suited for such tasks.

c&t coal · Post by **c&t coal** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 5:30 pm

yup, it's good for making concrete.

lincolnmania · Post by **lincolnmania** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 6:32 pm

I grew sweet corn in coal ash and red clay, would have had larger ears if it wasn't so dry last season.

waytomany?s · Post by **waytomany?s** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 9:33 pm

lincolnmania wrote: ↑
Wed. Jan. 18, 2023 6:32 pm
I grew sweet corn in coal ash and red clay, would have had larger ears if it wasn't so dry last season.

Did it help break up the clay?