Greener Alternatives to Fireworks

We owe it to our planet to make our national holidays greener, and-- in the case of July 4th-- that may mean surrendering our beloved fireworks. Flashes and bangs disrupt wild birds, causing them to abandon their nests, fly into power lines, and even cause them to explode from within-- as we saw this New Year's day, when thousands of birds fell from the sky following annual festivities. Harmful metal contaminants disrupt the hormones of fish and cause health problems in humans. Smoke fills the air, triggering asthma and even pneumonia. In every way, conventional fireworks spell a virtual apocalypse for the world around us.

Unfortunately, for most of us, Independence Day and fireworks are inextricably linked. A July 4th without fireworks would be like Thanksgiving with no turkey, Halloween without jack-o-lanterns, or Easter with no eggs. Even the greenest among us, while eager to forgo disposable plates and gas grills, are reluctant to give up fireworks for the sake of the environment. Even as a very dedicated environmentalist, the idea of a totally green Independence Day seemed depressing to me-- until I learned about the many ecologically-friendly alternatives.

Here are a few fun alternatives to conventional fireworks that can help us enjoy our holidays without hurting our planet.

Look into smoke-free alternative fireworks. Modern fireworks are increasingly green, but they certainly don't do the environment any favors. Some companies are working to create nitrogen-rich pyrotechnics, which propel exciting fire shows into the sky without the smoke involved in conventional fireworks. Many of these new fireworks are also made with less toxic metals as colorants, so they are not as likely to cause air and water pollution as their conventional counterparts. Fireworks like these are currently employed by Disney theme parks, where concerns for asthmatic patrons triggered an increase in the use of green pyrotechnics. Unfortunately, these still come with a major ecological footprint and still startle and kill wild animals. If there is a large fireworks show in your area on July 4th, write the event organizers about the benefits of using these alternatives.

Prefer greener packaging.

Several companies are now working to use greener packaging and greener materials to make their fireworks. However, they are still in an extreme minority. One Japanese company uses sawdust and rice chaff mixed with biodegradable plastic, so that it is more sustainable to make it less likely to cause long-term pollution. Nevertheless, these fireworks still contain all the booms and bangs of conventional pyrotechnics, and they may contain just as many poisonous heavy metals. They also produce smoke and may be a health and safety hazard, particularly to those sensitive to respiratory disease. Nevertheless, consider writing Independence Day organizers in your area about these alternative products.

Go to a laser show.

Laser light shows can be surprisingly fun and exciting, even when compared to impressive fireworks displays. I was mind-blown by a laser show at Stone Mountain in Atlanta that I saw several years ago. In many ways, it was actually far more impressive than most fireworks displays-- and all the better because of its benefits for the environment. Laser shows are a novelty to the many people who are accustomed to fireworks. Try taking your family out for a laser show this year to support a greener Independence Day tradition. You'll be doing a tremendous favor to the planet.

At the very least, skip personal fireworks. Even if you're not willing to forgo fireworks entirely, go to a fireworks show instead of shooting them in your own backyard. By far, individual citizens cause the vast majority of fireworks-related injuries and pollution. In fact, almost all human injuries and deaths from fireworks have occurred because of the use of fireworks at home. Private fireworks "shows" account for more than 55 times the amount of pollution that public shows cause. In a public place, the fireworks are not only more impressive, but far greener. Instead of individually causing a backyard ecological nightmare, you're sharing the eco-burden with hundreds or thousands of other people. When you consider that these events are also far safer for you and your family, the choice is obvious: stick with a public fireworks display, and lose the sparklers and Roman candles.

Create a new tradition. Who says fireworks and July 4th have to go together? There are plenty of other fun, exciting traditions that can replace fireworks in your family's traditions. Your family can choose to create art every Independence Day, or to go out on a rowboat, or to set up a lemonade stand to raise money for a just cause. Sometimes, going green doesn't just mean changing our habits, but altering our mind sets. In an ideal world, we wouldn't simply look for "green" alternatives to inherently unsustainable industries. We would change our worldview so that we no longer want fireworks at all.