For many, it wouldn’t be a Fourth of July celebration without the fireworks. The striking colors in the sky along with their booms, pops and crackles make for an entertaining spectacle. However, they are not the safest items to be shooting up into the sky.

Fireworks contain several unhealthy ingredients. A main one is potassium perchlorate, which gets into the soil, air and water. This chemical is also known to cause damage to the thyroid gland. Other ingredients include heavy metals such as barium and copper, which are toxic. In addition, fireworks cause light and air pollution. So can we find a balance between celebrating the fourth and preserving our planet?

Eco-friendly Fireworks

When purchasing fireworks, you should look for ones that contain modern formulas. Nitrogen-rich materials and nitrocellulose are less toxic, and they produce less smoke too.

Over the years, fireworks have become less harmful to the environment. For example, arsenic was used in “snakes” in the 1990s but was later banned in the United States. Also, some parks that shoot off fireworks year round have made eco-friendly changes. For example, Walt Disney Co. developed “air launch” technology, which uses compressed air instead of gunpowder to reduce pollutants.

Recycling Fireworks

Some fireworks are classified as explosives since they contain dangerous mixtures of chemicals, which doesn’t make them good candidates for recycling. So, until someone develops fireworks that can be recycled, you can at least minimize your use. For example, keep the fireworks display in one area so the clean up is isolated. Also, contact your local city council or city hall so you can properly dispose of the firework debris. Cleaning up the mess immediately is important so that the chemical dust and ash doesn’t blow away. Another way to reduce firework waste is to attend a community display instead of hosting your own—one show is less pollution than two or more. Or you can create a personalized online showing of fireworks with Fireworks Simulation.

Fireworks are fun to watch, and you don’t have to give up this Fourth of July tradition, just use more eco-friendly ones.