Fireworks season has arrived! While many are excited about new purchases, some may wonder, "Can last year's leftover fireworks still be used?" Others might still have old fireworks lying around because they didn’t know how to dispose of them.
Wakamatuyu, Japan's leading fireworks company, receives inquiries a few times a year asking, "How do I dispose of old fireworks?" Their response? "Just use them!"
But can old fireworks really ignite? What if they got damp? To solve these questions, we decided to test some of the old fireworks we found lying around!
How to Dispose of Old Fireworks?
If you have fireworks left over that you couldn’t use or gave up on because they wouldn’t ignite, you might think they’re damp. But do you even know how to dispose of them?
A. Use them to dispose of them! It’s the easiest method.
Wait, really? Are they not damp?! If they don’t light, people often say, “They must be damp.”
"Then what was that thing you said was damp?!" I blurted out, and Wakamatuyu responded, "That’s just a misconception."
There are many detailed regulations regarding the handling of gunpowder, and disposal must follow those rules, making using them the easiest disposal method.
Can Fireworks That Were Carelessly Stored Still Be Used?
After speaking with Wakamatuyu, I returned home, buzzing with excitement, and said, "They say fireworks don’t get damp! Apparently, if it’s within ten years, you can still use them!"
So, my mom dug out some fireworks that had been lying dormant in the pantry.
Wait, does something like that really exist?
The little bag was from a now-closed store, suggesting it was from 6-7 years ago.
They were just stored in a plastic bag without any desiccant. Despite that, they looked like they were in decent shape.
I was impressed that they were kept so well, probably because my mom didn’t know how to dispose of them.
Let’s Light Them Up! Can We Really Use Them?!
We’ll use the traditional method of melting wax and drizzling it on the ground to secure them. Since we’re still on our property, we should be fine.
Wow! It lit up!! Amazing! We can play with these!!
These also lit up perfectly! So cool!!
My younger sister was having a blast with one in each hand. Nothing’s more fun than that.
A college student was busy with sparklers, saying, "This isn’t quite a full chrysanthemum…"
It fell at the end, but we got pretty far with it, right?!
My sister said, "Filming puts pressure on both the fireworks and the people..." What does that even mean??
Results: We Used Up Every Last Firework! Fireworks Don’t Get Damp! Let’s Enjoy Old and New Together!
This time, we used fireworks that were about 6-7 years old and had been stored at home. We tried out classic toy fireworks and sparklers, and they all ignited beautifully!
It seems that if you have leftovers from last year or fireworks you couldn’t use this year, you can definitely enjoy them without worry.
Bonus: Gel-Based Fire Extinguisher for Easy Cleanup
While it’s not included in the title budget, I heard about such products, so I quickly picked one up at a nearby supermarket.
When you add water, it creates a gel in the bag where you can stick the burnt-out remnants, replacing the old bucket of water.
Plus, you can just toss it in the burnable trash! Say goodbye to the hassle of cleaning up a bucket!
Make sure to read the package carefully and use it correctly.
You can purchase Wakamatuyu’s gel fire extinguisher, "Hanabi Katamete Poi," here.
