Q&A for How to Dispose of Fireworks

The fireworks are no longer viable once they get wet. Fireworks must be kept in a sealed, dry container, and stored in a dry, low-humidity area to ensure their long-term utility. Wet fireworks remain a potential hazard as they may still explode, so handle with care when moving them to be soaked and disposed of. After soaking, double bag them to keep them wet, then dispose of in the outdoor trash.

Fireworks should be soaked for at least 20 to 30 minutes before disposing of them; it is even better if you can leave them to soak overnight.

If stored well sealed in a dry place of very low humidity, and they are intact and undamaged, old fireworks should be safe to use. However, if old fireworks have been exposed to water or you can see visible damage, such as loose fuses, dented cones, lost fins, missing sticks, etc., then it is time to dispose of them. If the fireworks have been subjected to moisture/water or have been damaged, dispose of them appropriately or take them to your local fire station for proper disposal; handle with great care! If old fireworks that have been stored dry and kept intact fail to light, do not approach them for 30 minutes, then soak them and dispose of them as outlined in the article above.

Fireworks that fail to go off are duds and should never be relighted. Instead, they should be retrieved after waiting at least 30 minutes, then soaked properly before disposing of them. Unexploded fireworks are dangerous because they have the potential to go off at any time, so handle with great care or call the fire brigade if you feel unsafe.

When stored properly, in dry, low-humid and well sealed conditions, most fireworks do not have an expiry date. On the other hand, fireworks that have become wet, damp or damaged are no longer useful and are potentially hazardous, and should be disposed of appropriately. Check the manufacturer's directions concerning storage and any suggestions about use-by dates.

It is not possible to recycle fireworks. Fireworks contain chemicals, fuels and oxidizers which can easily contaminate other objects they come into contact with, rendering all affected recyclables useless for recycling. Fireworks should be disposed of as household trash or at appropriate trash depots or via the fire department. Last but not least, if you mean reuse, do not attempt to salvage a firework that failed to go off after lighting; it should be considered a potential hazard and be soaked in water, then thrown away.

No, fireworks are not considered hazardous waste.