Households across the UK are being urged to follow strict rules before throwing away fireworks in black bins after Bonfire Night celebrations. While grand fireworks displays will take place this evening and into the weekend, those opting for smaller, private displays in back gardens are advised to dispose of fireworks and sparklers safely after they have been lit.
According to hazardous waste disposal experts, used fireworks must be soaked in water overnight before being placed in a bag and disposed of in the black bin. Soaking ensures hot embers have fully burnt out and cooled, otherwise they could pose a fire risk if thrown straight into household bins.
Sparkler and unused firework guidance
Sparklers should also be left to cool in a bucket of cold water immediately after use until completely cooled, as their metal wires can remain extremely hot even after burning out. Once fully cool, they are safe to dispose of in the general household waste bin.
As for any unused fireworks left over, these should not be thrown into black bins or recycling bins as they may still contain explosive material that could ignite if exposed to heat, friction or impact.
Expert advice on safe disposal
Experts at BusinessWaste.co.uk said: “Don’t place unused fireworks straight in the bin. If you have fireworks left over from your display, avoid putting them in your household waste or recycling bin without first checking the correct disposal method.
“Even if they have been sitting in their original packaging for several days, unused fireworks can still contain explosive material that may ignite if handled incorrectly. Where possible, you can return unwanted fireworks to the retailer or contact your local council for disposal advice.
“Fireworks that have gone off successfully can usually be disposed of in your general waste bin, but only once they have completely cooled.
“Used fireworks may still contain hot embers or traces of explosive material, so don't place them directly into a wheelie bin after a display. Instead, the government recommends soaking spent fireworks and debris in water overnight before bagging them for disposal.
“Once completely cooled and soaked, place them in a bag and dispose of them in your general waste, following your local council's instructions.”
Packaging and storage tips
Households are advised to check the disposal method on fireworks boxes before throwing them away and, where possible, return any that haven’t been lit to the retailer where they were bought. It is also worth checking if the local council offers a disposal service for any unused, damaged or partly fired fireworks before attempting to get rid of them yourself.
While many fireworks are made using cardboard and paper tubes, used packaging should not be thrown into recycling bins as it may still contain chemical residues that make it unsuitable for normal cardboard recycling.
If households plan to keep any leftover fireworks until next Bonfire Night, they can do so provided they are stored in their original packaging and kept in a cool, dry and secure place, away from heat, flammable materials, children and pets. Sheds and garages should be avoided as they are susceptible to damp, which could cause fireworks to become wet or damaged.
Mark Hall, 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.
“However, there is a big difference between an empty firework casing and one that hasn't gone off. Waste collection crews have no way of knowing what's inside a bin before it's emptied, and rubbish is often compacted during collection. If someone has thrown away a live firework, that creates an unnecessary risk for the people handling it.
“People should also remember that taking something to a recycling centre doesn't always mean it can be accepted. Unused fireworks may require specialist collections, so it's worth making a quick call before travelling rather than turning up with something the site cannot safely handle.
“The safest approach is to deal with the clear-up properly rather than rushing to get everything into the bin the morning after. Making sure spent fireworks are completely cool and checking how unwanted ones should be disposed of can help prevent avoidable incidents.”
