Hosting a fireworks display is a blast but knowing how to properly get rid of the used fireworks afterward is important. It’s all about keeping everyone safe from fires and protecting our local environment.
Firstly, never put anything hot in your bin! Always make sure your fireworks are completely cool and soaked in water before you even think about tossing them. And a major point – don’t try to recycle fireworks in your paper and card wheelie bin as they are full of chemical residue.
You can dispose of them safely at one of our Recycle 4 Greater Manchester sites.
Once your display has finished, here’s how to handle your fireworks safely:
Let them cool: Even if they look spent, fireworks can stay hot for about 30 minutes after they’ve gone off. Give them plenty of time to cool down completely.
Soak them: Carefully gather all your used fireworks and dunk them entirely into a bucket of water. Leave them to soak overnight. This is a crucial step that makes sure any hidden embers or unspent chemicals are totally extinguished and safe.
Wear gloves: When you’re handling the leftover bits, pop on some strong gloves. They’ll protect your hands from any chemical residue.
Bag them: After their good soak, wrap the wet fireworks in a plastic bag or seal them in one. This keeps them damp and stops them from drying out and potentially becoming a fire hazard again.
For most fireworks that have fully gone off and been thoroughly soaked, you can simply put them in your general household waste bin. Just a reminder: they don’t go in any of your recycling bins.
Alternatively, you can bring your soaked, used fireworks to any Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) Household Waste Recycling Centre. We accept them in our general waste skips.
If you’re not sure exactly where to put them when you arrive, just ask a member of our R4GM staff and they’ll be happy to help direct you.
If you have any fireworks that didn’t go off, or are old and unused, it’s best to handle these with extra care. Sometimes, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service runs special fireworks amnesty schemes where they can safely collect and dispose of these. It’s always a good idea to check their website for the latest information on such schemes.
By following these simple steps, you’re not just safely clearing up after your display; you’re helping to keep your home, your community, and our waste collection teams safe.
