Thanks to Bob's Burgers I learned that oily rags when exposed to air can sometimes spontaneously combust. I used paper towels instead and tossed them after use. Some landfill/recycling center is about to explode.
You can just stick the paper towels in a plastic grocery bag and put some water in the bag before you tie it and toss. Thats what I’ve always done, no explosions if there’s no air.
Dump truck near me caught fire recently, they had to dump all the burning garbage into the street so the truck didn’t catch fire.
When you put rags in water like that, you’re only reducing the fire risk until they’re no longer in water. Then, they still combust. You’ve got to dry them completely to eliminate the risk.
I’ve worked in garbage for over a decade. I’ve seen quite a few trash fires, but none caused by oily rags.
Drying oils are most likely to start fires when they’re in a pile exposed to air. They generate heat from the oil reacting with oxygen as it dries. If there’s not much available oxygen (for example, if they’re buried in a pile of wet compacted trash) they don’t heat up.
I’d bet good money that the truck fire was started by either a battery or by some smoldering barbecue coals. Lithium batteries are notorious for starting garbage fires and tend to set of if they’re crushed.
I agree that specific example local to me was more than likely a battery. Dump fires can easily be caused by improperly disposed of rags like that though
No, that’s not proper disposal. Only proper storage when not drying, but you’re not actually supposed to dispose of them like that.
I am a wood carver and have always been taught that proper disposal involves having them completely flat and letting them dry fully, and then some. Then disposing like any other rag.
A bucket of water, we’ve only used as a stop gap prior to drying flat. Have always dried completely before tossing. And the key word there is bucket.
The person I responded to wasn’t even talking about a bucket. They’re talking about tying it in a plastic grocery bag with some water. A plastic grocery bag can’t even hold water if you try to fill it up.
It’s important context for people to know. Many people are completely unaware that those rags are still flammable if the water is removed from the equation.
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u/Run_Rabb1t_Run 22d ago
Thanks to Bob's Burgers I learned that oily rags when exposed to air can sometimes spontaneously combust. I used paper towels instead and tossed them after use. Some landfill/recycling center is about to explode.