Storing oily rags

[Tiggie]

This is why you don't compress a ton of oily rags in a storage container. Spontaneous combustion! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was at work cutting fish when I noticed a burning smell. Looked around shop and all was fine, checked outside in loading bay and could see smoke billowing out of the mechanics. I knew no-one was in as all entrance gates were locked. I rang fire brigade who got there in no time. You can just see the bin to the right of the firefighter in the photo, they said it was probably smouldering all night, it hadn't actually even caught on fire at that time but would of eventually gone up in a blaze.

 

 

[Bender]

One can self combust I learnt this years ago. 

[Gerontious]

why would you want to keep them anyway?  If I don't have a supply at home, I get them from a charity shop. they always get clothes etc they can't sell, usually because of damage.  (anything soiled is treated as clinical waste and has to be dealt with differently - by law)

 

I just ask if they have any cotton sheets or similar and they nearly always do. drop some change in their collection tin and toddle off.

[Tiggie]

I'm guessing a mechanics garage goes through a lot 

 

They should have a metal container to keep them in I believe. At least that's what i've seen at other garages and is what we use ourselves at the fish shop to leave scraps cooling in overnight as the same thing can happen with them

[S-Westerly]

Oil contaminated cotton rags / waste is a well known fire source. Supposed to be stored in air tight metal containers for legal disposal, usually incineration.