1. Attend an organised public display
The safest way to enjoy the classic bonfire night celebrations is to attend an organised event that has safety guidelines in place. This minimises the impact of fireworks and bonfires in residential areas. Safety and clean-up will also be managed professionally.
2. Avoid DIY bonfires
If you need to host your celebration at home, avoid creating a DIY bonfire. They can endanger wildlife and can get out of hand easily. If you already have a chiminea or garden fire pit, this can be a safer alternative. But make sure that you set it up away from buildings, bushes and trees, and supervise it at all times.
3. Try fire-free activities
If you are hosting a gathering, why not try lighting up your garden with LED fairy lights, solar lamps, or handmade lanterns using electric tea lights. When you are done with these, please make sure any old batteries are removed and recycled at a battery recycling point. You can add to the festivities by making autumnal leaf decorations and baking some traditional treats.
If you are using your own fireworks or sparklers, you must be sure to follow safe disposal guidelines. Sparklers, ashes, and spent, un-used and mis-fired fireworks can all cause fires in gardens, bins, collection vehicles and at treatment plants if they arenβt disposed of properly.
Fireworks
Spent, mis-fired and even unused fireworks should be handled carefully and must be totally cold before disposal, this can take much longer than you might think.
Spent fireworks should be left to cool overnight or thoroughly soaked in water to cool before being put in your general waste bin.
Mis-fired or unused fireworks should be fully submerged in water for 48 hours before being put in a bin bag and into general waste bins.
Sparklers
Sparklers reach incredibly high temperatures when in use, once used they should be submerged in a bucket of water to allow them to go out and cool before being put in the general waste bin.
Bonfires and ashes
Bonfires can spread easily and should be well doused with water to ensure they are out before being left. After your bonfire, ashes should be fully cold before being placed in the bin to prevent re-ignition and fires in bins, collection vehicles and waste facilities.