With the Fourth of July almost here, there are plenty of reasons why you might have some fireworks on your hands.
You don’t want to just go ahead and toss them into your household waste bins or trash cans. Therefore, we’ve put together this guide covering everything you need to know about how to dispose of fireworks:
Fireworks were made to explode. Consequentially, they are an incredibly dangerous item to own and operate.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 15,600 were hospitalized with firework-related injuries in 2020. Furthermore, the National Safety Council reported that fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year.
You should make sure to store any unused fireworks in a cool, dry place. A garage is your best bet. Also, make sure stow your unused fireworks far away from electrical appliances. The appliance could be damaged in extreme weather. This could result in the ignition of the fireworks, which would be incredibly dangerous.
Additionally, make sure to clean up any loose powder, as it could spark if ignited by friction, thus creating a fire risk.
On the other hand, if you’re all firework-ed out, and you’re looking to dispose of unused, misfired, or “dud” fireworks, follow the steps below.
You don’t want to simply toss unused fireworks into your regular garbage cans. Instead, follow these steps for proper disposal of fireworks:
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The first step is to completely submerge fireworks in a bucket of water for at least 15 minutes. They need to soak until they are fully saturated, which can take anywhere from 15 minutes (for small fireworks) to overnight (for large fireworks). In this case, longer is always going to be better.
The next step is to double wrap your soaked fireworks in either plastic wrap or two plastic bags. The key here is making sure your fireworks don’t dry out, as they need to remain saturated to safely dispose of them. The bags will ensure that they maintain moisture.
Once you have double wrapped your completely soaked fireworks in plastic, they are safe to dispose of. Since fireworks are not considered hazardous waste, you can place them in your household trash or take them to a landfill.
You could also dispose of them in a roll off dumpster rental, alongside any other household waste or unwanted junk that you’re looking to get rid of. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, visit our website to explore our available containers.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to contact your local fire department or solid waste facility. Some jurisdictions offer other disposal options, and it could be beneficial to know what is available in your community.
You should never throw unsoaked fireworks into your household garbage. As you have probably guessed, they pose a severe fire hazard to both your property and your person.
Additionally, fireworks are typically made from harsh chemicals, metals, and fuel, which can leak into the groundwater if they are improperly disposed of. This would pose serious threats to both the environment and human health.
Therefore, it is critical that you follow the steps above and exercise caution when disposing of any unused or misfired fireworks.
If you need a place to toss your fireworks (once they have been properly soaked and wrapped, of course), consider hiring a dumpster rental. Not only would a roll off dumpster rental eliminate the stress of having to transport unused fireworks yourself, but it is a great way to dispose of any additional household waste or unwanted junk.
Visit our website or contact our team to learn more about our available dumpster sizes. Our expert staff would be more than happy to help.
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