Summer is just about to kick off, so let’s take a moment to talk about grilling safety. The two biggest concerns when it comes to grilling and safety are burns and fires. Before firing up the BBQ this weekend, make sure you take into account these important safety tips:

General Grilling Safety

• Only use your grill outdoors.
• Keep the grill away from the house and out from underneath eaves or second-floor decks.
• Don’t leave the grill unattended.
• Keep a fire extinguisher close by and know how to use it.
• Keep pets and small children away from the grill.
• Clean the grill either before or after each use. Make sure to remove all grease and fat buildup from the trays underneath.
• Do not operate a grill if you’re intoxicated.
• Cook all food thoroughly to avoid salmonella poisoning or other harmful bacteria buildup.
• Use long-handled utensils to avoid burns.

Charcoal Grills

• Add starter fluid before lighting the coals, and never after. Do not add starter fluid to hot coals.
• Burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide. Avoid breathing in the fumes.
• Do not store lighter fluid or other flammable materials near the grill and keep them out of the reach of pets and children.
• When finished grilling, close all vents and let the fire burn out. Let ashes cool at least 48 hours before disposing of them.

Propane Grills

• At the beginning of the season, use a soapy water solution to check tanks, hoses, and connectors for leaks. Brush the solution over the hoses and connectors. If you see bubbles develop, you have a leak and need to have it repaired or replaced before you begin grilling.
• Keep the lid open when lighting the grill.
• If unable to light the grill within 10 seconds, turn off the gas, leave the lid open and wait 5 minutes before trying again.
• Never use an accelerant like lighter fluid on a propane grill.
• When finished grilling, turn off the burner and close the valve on the propane tank.
• When the grill has completely cooled, cover it with a grill cover to prevent leaves and other detritus from building up around the grill and tank parts and to prevent rusting.

Have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend!

This information is provided as a service to you by Compliance Consultants, Inc.

If you’re like most people, you probably have a box full of old household electronics and have no idea what to do with them. Should you donate or recycle? Do you know what you need to do before you donate or recycle your personal electronics?

Donating used (but still operating) electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste stream for a longer period of time. By donating your used household electronics, you allow schools, nonprofit organizations, and lower-income families to obtain equipment that they otherwise could not afford.

However, before donating your computer or other electronics, make sure the equipment is reusable. A donation organization may have limited or in many cases no resources to diagnose and repair hardware. A functional, working system—especially with monitor, wiring, and software licenses—is a lot more useful and requires less upgrading than a nonworking, incomplete computer. Also, be sure to delete all personal information.

If donating your electronics is not an option, then recycle them. Manufacturers and retailers offer several options to recycle electronics. Electronics recyclers provide comprehensive recycling operations. Some of the commodities that can be extracted from electronic equipment — in particular, steel, aluminum, gold, silver, titanium, copper, nickel, plastic, and glass — are used as valuable raw material in the manufacture of new products. Remember, donating or recycling your used household electronics is a win-win situation. You dispose of your unwanted items and in doing so, you’re protecting the environment and providing help to those in need!

On a similar and important note, PA residents, as of January 24, 2013, are no longer allowed to throw away electronic devices with other municipal waste. They must take them to an electronics recycling center, leave them for curbside pickup if the community offers an electronics collection program, or use an approved mail-back or buy-back program.

Helpful Links for Household Electronics Disposal:

• EPA’s eCycling Page – Some great information and resources for dealing with electronic waste.
• Best Buy’s Electronic Recycling Program
• Staples Easy on the Planet Electronics Recycling Program
• Where You Live eCycling – Find local resources where you can recycle your household electronics.
• PA DEP Covered Device Recycling Act – A fact sheet on the PA rule regarding recycling of household electronics.

This information is provided as a service to you by Compliance Consultants, Inc.