Households clearing away fireworks after Bonfire Night are being urged to follow a simple safety step before throwing them out. The advice is designed to reduce the risk of hot debris or firework remains causing problems after a display has ended.
Government firework safety guidance says people should wait until everything is completely cool, then soak spent fireworks and debris in water overnight before bagging and disposing of them appropriately. Households should not rush to put firework remains straight into a wheelie bin after a display.
Warning Over Unused Fireworks
Hazardous waste specialists at BusinessWaste.co.uk are also warning people to take care with fireworks left over after celebrations. Unused, damaged or misfired fireworks may still contain explosive material and should not be put directly into household rubbish or recycling.
Mark Hall, a hazardous waste disposal expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said: "Once Bonfire Night is over, it's easy to treat everything left behind as ordinary rubbish, particularly when you've got empty boxes, used fireworks and packaging to clear away." He stressed that a firework that has not gone off must be treated differently from an empty casing.
Correct Disposal Steps
For fireworks that have successfully discharged, the recommended approach is to let them cool fully, soak them overnight, then place them in a bag for general waste disposal, following local council instructions. Never put fireworks, even spent ones, on a bonfire or assume their cardboard casings can be recycled.
The advice is different for fireworks that have misfired, are partly spent or have not been used at all. These should not go into household bins, and people should contact the retailer or local council for advice rather than attempting to dispose of them as ordinary rubbish.
Local Schemes and Final Checks
Some fire and rescue services give additional instructions for unwanted fireworks, including arrangements for safe collection in certain areas. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, for example, operates a fireworks amnesty, so residents should check whether a similar scheme is available locally.
Mr Hall said: "The safest approach is to deal with the clear-up properly rather than rushing to get everything into the bin the morning after." He added that checking the correct disposal method before travelling to a recycling centre could prevent people arriving with items the site cannot safely accept.
Clean, empty packaging may be recyclable if the local council accepts it, but firework remains should be kept out of recycling. If there is any doubt about whether a firework has fully gone off, treat it as potentially live and seek disposal advice.
