Roughly 200 pounds of discarded fireworks were found in a Bainbridge Township recycling bin last week, prompting officials to issue strong warnings about the serious dangers of improper disposal.
Roughly 200 pounds of discarded fireworks were found in a Bainbridge Township recycling bin last week, prompting officials to issue strong warnings about the serious dangers of improper disposal.
The issue was brought to light during the July 14 township trustees meeting, where Trustee Kristina O’Brien emphasized the potentially hazardous situation and urged residents to follow proper procedures when disposing of fireworks.
“Fireworks should never, ever, ever, ever be recycled,” said Jennifer Jones, Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District director, in a July 15 phone interview.
Jones had earlier contacted O’Brien by email on July 8, asking the township to review security camera footage at the site. She expressed concern the incident could have led to a fire or serious harm.
“Putting flammable things in recycling is very—it’s very dangerous and it should not be done,” Jones said July 15.
According to Jones, the fireworks included materials like foam and wood and were coated with gunpowder residue, none of which are recyclable.
“I think the people who put it in there may have thought it was maybe recyclable, because of all (of) the cardboard tubes,” Jones said, suggesting the act may have been a case of illegal dumping.
She explained the risks involved when such materials enter the recycling system.
“(The fireworks) could potentially start a fire in the truck, so that’s an issue,” Jones said. “Then, once it gets to the recycling facility — if it makes it there — then the same thing happens when it gets to the recycling facility and it has to go through a series of machines … it could potentially catch fire.”
Fires not only endanger workers but could also result in major damage to recycling infrastructure.
“These are $30, $40 million dollar facilities that have very high-tech equipment that fire could potentially damage, all of that very expensive equipment,” she explained.
Jones said all fireworks, including small ones like sparklers, should be thoroughly soaked in water overnight before being thrown away in the regular trash.
“They need to be soaked in water overnight to lessen the risk of fire and then, once you take them out of the water, then you can bag them up and put them out with your regular trash to dispose of fireworks,” she said.
She also pointed out that garbage trucks use compacting machines, which generate friction and could ignite fireworks if not properly neutralized.
“(Fireworks are) more prevalent than years ago, so people need to know how to dispose of them properly,” said Jones.
