Keep Omaha Beautiful, one of the oldest environmental nonprofits of Nebraska has published a step-by-step visual guide on how to safely dispose of fireworks waste. Fireworks contain an assortment of toxic pollutants, including heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds, and other poisonous materials. The following steps are recommended to safely and properly dispose of fireworks waste, which helps prevent litter and water pollution.
- Wait a minimum of 20 minutes after completing your fireworks display before collecting the waste to ensure that there are no burning materials present.
- Submerge all spent fireworks in a bucket or large tub of water for at least 15 minutes or until they are completely saturated.
- Seal the saturated fireworks as well as any remaining dust or debris in plastic wrap or a plastic bag.
- Place the plastic bag into a trash receptacle.
- The water used to soak the fireworks should then be disposed of indoors down a toilet. Do NOT pour the water into a yard or down storm drains.
