Any of the barb Q bunch know if the charcoal you buy for these has any addatives to make it burn better. Just thinking it might be a good additive to certain composts if it was crushed.
Charcoal (Biochar) can be beneficial for the garden. It helps retain moisture and prevent leaching of various nutrients from the soil. It can help in retaining the structure of the soil. However, after you have done with the barbie, DON't scatter or dig-in the ashes from the charcoal. Changes have taken place caused by the burning and any added chemicals to the original charcoal. Such reuse will adversly affect plant life in most case proving to be fatal to flora and fauna.
@pete I use lumpwood charcoal and crush it for my orchid compost. I would NOT use briquettes but the lumpwood is sort of 'raw'. Nothing died... well not from the compost anyway
I think the 'lumpwood' charcoal that needs old fashioned firelighters to get going would be safe for your purpose. Get 'lumpwood' rather than 'briquettes' maybe from a Garden centre or Wickes - the bags they are packed in sometimes have the paraffin impregnation to get them going.
Quite right @Redwing Then again, so does paper and cardboard but some people insist its safe to put on the compost! Some packaging material also have plastic and aluminium. The combination of oil, plastic and aluminium prohibits the use of recycled cardboard for use in the food industry!
