As fireworks season ramps up across the country, NPDC is reminding residents to correctly dispose fireworks to disposal to prevent potentially catastrophic fires and protect waste workers.

Just follow three simple steps of thoroughly drenching used fireworks under running water before wrapping in newspaper and placing them in their red landfill bin. This ensures the fireworks are extinguished.

NPDC Resource Recovery and Sustainability Lead Jenn O’Connell, says many residents don’t realise the serious hazards improperly discarded fireworks create.

“When people toss their fireworks straight into the rubbish without taking proper precautions, they’re risking our team’s safety at the kerbside and the Material Recovery Facility (MRF),” Ms O’Connell explains.

“The risk of fireworks making it into the MRF is high and it would only take one to cause significant damage or injury.”

Theory became reality on the first day of fireworks season last year when a kerbside collection contractor spotted a damaged bin in which fireworks had been smouldering all night.

“Had that ended up in the truck it could have caused considerable disruption and damage to plant.”

The facility also had to deal with undischarged fireworks, with one going off in the plant where there is a lot of paper and cardboard which could have easily gone up in flames and halting the region’s recycling, not to mention potential injury or worse.

Due to the hazardous chemicals used in fireworks, they cannot be recycled.

Fast facts

• Remember to thoroughly soak used fireworks before wrapping them in newspaper and placing them in your red-lid landfill bin NOT recycling bin.
• Government rules state fireworks can only be sold in the four days up to and including Guy Fawkes (2-5 November)
• Fireworks and fires, including bonfires, are not allowed on any public land such as beaches and reserves across New Plymouth district.

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