Grilling without danger: for a safe family BBQ

Fun and attention are the guiding principles at barbecues. Because besides the fun there are dangers lurking - not just around an open fire. Caution is also required with drinks, especially if they are in glass bottles. If they break, the shards can quickly lead to cuts. Children and dogs are particularly affected, even wild animals, says a forester.

Whether in your own garden, on a meadow or at public barbecue areas in the forest: you don't want to be left high and dry at a picnic or with a sizzling barbecue. It is only natural to reach for a thirst quencher - but be careful if the bottle is made of glass.

Don't underestimate the risk of breakage
Glass bottles break easily, especially when things get hot. Shards and splinters, which pose a potential risk of injury, are often found in playgrounds and barbecue areas. Experts therefore advise careful handling, such as Kathrin Klein from the Schönbuch forest district near Stuttgart, which is part of the Baden-Württemberg state forest. "It's best to store glass bottles somewhere or securely place them on the ground. If a bottle does break, the broken glass should be completely collected," recommends the forester. In addition, she advises "before using the playground equipment in residential areas, check the area briefly for sharp objects, especially the fall protection, and don't necessarily walk barefoot."

Consider wildlife protection and the risk of forest fires
Not only humans and accompanying dogs can get cut by broken glass, natural forest dwellers are equally at risk. Kathrin Klein: "Of course, wild animals can also injure themselves on the shards, especially if the glass shards have the smell of something edible on them.
In hot summers, glass bottles and shards pose another danger: forest fires. To avoid possible ignition sources due to the burning glass effect, for example, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Interior in 2023 urged walkers and hikers to take and dispose of "small arsonists" like bottles or glass shards from the forest. Fortunately, there has been no forest fire caused by a glass shard in her forest district, forester Klein emphasizes: "But it is conceivable and cannot be ruled out with certainty in the future."

Use drinks in plastic as a stable alternative
PET plastic bottles are not only lightweight, but also extremely robust and do not break. Their use therefore eliminates the risk of injury - which is particularly important when children or pets are nearby. Forester Klein also confirms this: "There is certainly no risk of injury from shatterproof plastic bottles."
Attentive behavior includes not leaving any garbage behind or disposing of it properly. The barbecue areas and playgrounds are visited twice a week during the summer months. Then the full garbage cans are emptied, and "wild garbage" is collected, says Kathrin Klein. The playground equipment and fall protection are also checked for sharp objects, such as broken glass. "If shards are discovered, they will of course be collected," assures the forester. In total, around 30 tons of waste are disposed of in the state forest around Stuttgart every year. Nevertheless, a personal sense of responsibility is important. And plastic waste in particular can be easily recycled. Kathrin Klein: "That's why we appeal to people to simply dispose of plastic bottles and packaging waste at home. It's also good for the forest." And for those who would like to enjoy their family BBQ there carefree.

ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG
Mockenstraße 34
6971 Hard
Austria

About "Plastic is fantastic"
"Plastic is fantastic" refers to the relationship between humans and one of the most elementary building blocks of civilization: plastic. With factual contributions, the initiative aims to achieve the appreciation that is appropriate for the versatile material.

The Austrian specialist for plastic packaging Alpla has launched "Plastic is fantastic" - because the company believes in the recyclable material. For example, Alpla is now in its third generation of commitment to sustainable recycling solutions and is also a pioneer in the development of new bioplastics. What makes plastic so fantastic is also shown in the new video "Plastic is fantastic" on YouTube.

This release was published on openPR.