Republic Services is encouraging customers and communities across DFW to incorporate safety and environmental responsibility into your summer festivities.
“The safest way to dispose of used and unused fireworks is to submerge them in water before disposal,” said Tracy Skennadore with Republic Services. “Safely disposing your soaked fireworks debris, including used matches, in a trash container not only mitigates the risk of fire, it also helps to prevent littering.”
It’s also recommended to allow charcoal ashes to safely cool after a cookout. Then, put the charcoal in cold water to accelerate the cooling process. Once completely cool, wrap charcoal in aluminum foil and throw away.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans throw out more than 25 percent – 25.9 million tons – of food every year. Experts say careful meal planning and mindful grocery shopping can help curb food waste. Republic Services recommends in addition to making a shopping list, send leftovers home with guests to further reduce food waste.
The company advises making sure recyclables are empty, clean, and dry before tossing them in the recycling container to help reduce materials contamination at the curb so that recyclables are re-purposed into new materials as intended.
“When it comes to being more sustainable, our customers want to do the right thing and we are here to help them,” said Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services. “As you plan picnics and barbeques, consider ways to minimize the impact your activities might have on the environment.”
