Vancouver, Wash. – Even after they light up the night sky, fireworks remain potential sources of fire and worker injury. Improper disposal of fireworks puts waste and recycling workers at increased risk of injury from fires in their trucks and at transfer stations. Fireworks are not recyclable and will contaminate materials that are.

Tips for proper disposal of USED fireworks:

• Do not place ANY fireworks or ANY part of fireworks in your recycling cart. All used fireworks should be treated as garbage and disposed of as follows:
  • Put used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight. Remove them from the water and put them in a garbage bag and into your garbage can.
  • Dump the water onto grass or dirt or other landscape where it won’t flow into a storm drain and into the river. DO NOT pour onto pavement or into the street.

Tips for proper disposal of UNUSED fireworks:

• DO NOT put in your garbage or recycling; they are explosives and can cause serious harm to workers and the environment.
• DO NOT take them to the transfer stations; workers cannot accept explosives.
• DO take them to the following locations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, except holidays. Fireworks must be given directly to personnel, not left in lobby or outside unattended.

Clark County residents:

• Public Safety Complex – 505 N.W. 179^th St., Ridgefield

Vancouver residents:

• Vancouver Police Department East Precinct – 520 S.E. 115^th Ave.
• Vancouver Police Department West Precinct – 2800 N.E. Stapleton Rd.

Camas/Washougal residents:

• Station 41 – 616 N.E. 4th Ave., Camas
• Station 42 – 4321 N.W. Parker St., Camas
• Station 43 – 1400 A St., Washougal

Note on “duds:” If a firework fails to ignite, an adult should approach it carefully after waiting at least 15 minutes, and place it in a bucket of water. After soaking it overnight, remove it from the water and treat it as an UNUSED firework.

Report homemade explosive devices or altered fireworks

• Do not attempt to move or transport homemade explosive devices or altered fireworks for disposal. They will not be accepted at the above locations. Call 911 and report them for removal.

Residents should use fireworks only during legal discharge times, which vary across the county. It is illegal to discharge any fireworks in the city of Vancouver. For a chart showing when fireworks can legally be used in different areas, go to http://tinyurl.com/ycwmmgsr.

Failing to clean up fireworks residue is littering, a violation of Washington law and Clark County ordinance.

###

 

 

CONTACT
Kim Harless
Solid Waste Program
Public Health
360-397-2121 ext. 5957
kim.harless@clark.wa.gov