Enjoy an eco-friendly Bonfire Night

28 October 2024

Bonfire Night is round the corner and residents are encouraged to stay safe, be responsible and enjoy the celebrations sustainably this year.

Here are a few ways you can have fun safely on 5 November, while minimising the environmental impact of your evening:

Go to a public display - Organised displays are nearly always more impressive and work out cheaper than buying our own fireworks. It is also a safer way to enjoy the festivities and is less likely to upset the local neighbourhood pets and vulnerable residents.

Seek out eco-friendly fireworks - If you do host your own display, try to seek out some of the growing number of more sustainable firework and low noise options. Make sure you clear up all the rubbish from them afterwards. Only buy fireworks from a registered retailer and ensure they carry the CE mark. Stay away from sky-lanterns - they are banned from any council owned land and are a major fire risk and danger to wildlife when they land.

Be respectful - Give your neighbours plenty of notice so they can be prepared for the event and never set off fireworks near livestock. Remember that fireworks cannot be let off between the hours of 11pm and 7am, although on Bonfire Night the curfew is extended until midnight.

Dispose of fireworks safely - Soak any used, old or 'dead' fireworks and sparklers in water for 48 hours, pop them in a plastic bag and add them carefully to your general rubbish bin. Unfortunately, the chemicals used in the explosives mean they cannot be recycled.

Be careful what you burn - If you're having a bonfire, be careful what you put on it. Only burn untreated wood (not wood that's been painted or varnished) and garden waste, and don't forget to check for hedgehogs and other animals before you set light to it! Remember to never put hot ash into a wheeled bin.

Waste-free parties - If you're hosting a Bonfire Night party, you can cut out waste by switching disposable plates and cups and plastic cutlery to real (or at least reusable) glasses, crockery and cutlery. Beer and wine bottles, cans and plastic drinks bottles can all be gathered up and recycled. Finally, don't forget the food - take a look at the Love Food Hate Waste website for some tasty ideas for Bonfire Night party foods that use up things in the fridge and have plenty you can eat for lunch next day!

"Bonfire Night is always a great occasion to wrap up warm and enjoy the celebrations with friends and family." Says Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys. "And whilst we want everyone to have fun, we would like you all to do it safely and sustainably.

"There are lots of ways you can make 'greener' choices when planning your Bonfire Fire night get-togethers. Whether it is attending an organised event to cut down on the number of fireworks released into the sky or by making sure you recycle all your left-over party paraphernalia, we can all do our bit to make sure we reduce our impact on the local environment.

"Enjoy the evening and stay safe."