Waste Minimisation Officer, Douglas Button, said ahead of a stream of firework parties that: “it is not only critical to take safety precautions seriously during displays, but it is also very important to dispose of used and unused fireworks safely.
“If they are not disposed of correctly, fireworks pose a serious risk to staff handling waste and can also cause fires in collection vehicles or at the sites they end up at.”
Guernsey Waste guidelines for safe firework disposal:
* Let fireworks cool down completely for at least 30 minutes after use
* Soak both used and unused fireworks in water for at least one hour
* Wrap the soaked fireworks in plastic to prevent drying
* Dispose of soaked fireworks in your general household waste bin – never in recycling bins
* Even though sparklers are metal, follow the same soaking and disposal process for both used and unused items
* Avoid storing unused fireworks for future use. Soak them fully for at least 24 hours, wrap them in plastic to prevent drying, and dispose of them in general waste – never recycling
For a comprehensive list of further public and private firework displays, sales locations, and health and safety advice, visit the States website.