Ash Disposal

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Perky
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Post by Perky » Tue. Dec. 08, 2009 7:36 pm

Here's an article that was in my local paper today.
**Broken Link(s) Removed**
That was the routine for many years when coal was the primary heating fuel in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Before people switched to oil or gas or electricity to heat their homes, coal was burned in huge furnaces in most residences. Burning coal left ash residue that had to be lugged out of the cellar and to the curb or the garden, or to provide traction for your snowed-in vehicle.

Decades later, some homes still burn coal for heat. Many municipalities pick up the ashes during regular garbage collection, but some collect the ashes separately. Duryea Borough collects thousands of pounds of ashes per week during the colder months.
Last edited by Perky on Sat. Apr. 01, 2017 2:25 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Snipped article

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Tue. Dec. 08, 2009 8:09 pm

Our town still collects them too.

 
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wlape3
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Post by wlape3 » Tue. Dec. 08, 2009 8:36 pm

When I was a kid my uncle used to put out the ashes almost every day. He had a big octopus unit in the basement that burned stove coal. They also used to put it in the garden and around the bushes. In those days you could dig out enough coal to heat your house from the mine tailings in the middle of town. These were gigantic heaps of rocks and mine slag.

The heaps are gone now but I wonder if they still collect ashes. In those days most people heated with coal.

 
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duryeaburner
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Post by duryeaburner » Wed. Dec. 09, 2009 8:17 am

thanx for the article. I must have missed that issue. As I live in Duryea, was wondering if they still picked of ashes and now my question is answered with out even asking. What a great forum.


 
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009to090
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Post by 009to090 » Mon. Dec. 14, 2009 5:04 pm

Our garbage collection will pick up anything, so long as its bagged.

 
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gaw
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Post by gaw » Tue. Dec. 15, 2009 8:24 pm

I think they still collect ashes in the towns near me. I have not taken notice lately but I have seen ash tubs setting by the curb before. You set your tubs to the curb and they empty them into a small dump truck. The boroughs and townships put them on the road in the winter. I take mine to our township building where they have a big pile that people can dump on. This time of year they mix them with salt to use for antiskid.

 
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Barnzy
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Post by Barnzy » Tue. Dec. 15, 2009 9:40 pm

For the first time, just for the heck of it, I put 3 tubs at curbside last night just to see
if our garbage collector would take them and at 6 AM they were dumped straight into the packer.

A few years back, we we permitted to dump ashes at the Township Garage on a pile that was
mixed with anti skid, but they put a halt to this.
A Township supervisor said they had to stop this due to toxins from the ash on the roads getting into the ground water.

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