Is the environmental cost of Guy Fawkes still worth it
By Archie McFadzean
Guy Fawkes Night has been a very special day for many people from all around the world and many different cultures however, it’s becoming clearer to people that there are now many negative effects of the celebration, such as its environmental impact on wildlife and the cost of cleaning up the waste.
This raises several different questions. What can we do as a collective to help fix this issue? Could we be putting more constraints on the sale of fireworks and where they are used?
For example, could we use more Firework Control Zones (FCZ).
The environmental effects of Guy Fawkes Night can be seen all around Glasgow. For example, Glasgow Green is covered in debris and Pollokshields was so bad for antisocial behaviour there had to be a ban put on any fireworks being launched there from the first to the tenth of November.
Councillor Elaine McSporran, Glasgow City Council's firework safety champion, in an interview last year said: “Pollokshields has been the scene of some terrible firework-related antisocial behaviour in previous years.”
So, what is the effect of this? This litter not only ruins the beautiful nature and green spaces in Glasgow, but it also has a big impact on the wildlife that lives there.
For example, birds are affected heavily during the night and the days that follow mostly because of the noise that’s generated by the fireworks and the litter that is often toxic for birds which can lead to them suffering heart attacks and dying of a result of eating the rubbish or using it in their nests.
Not only birds are affected, but each year hundreds of hedgehogs are also killed because of the crossover with their hibernation periods as they look for areas that are warm and dry.
This usually ends with them picking bonfires. This then results in their deaths either from the cleanup when bonfire debris is moved or from toxic chemicals which they produce.
Not only wildlife is affected. According to data from Freshfields Animal Rescue 62% of family pets suffer acute distress during firework displays. Many also suffer permanent hearing loss, and some have become so distressed and panicked that they have died.
So why has the amount of rubbish been so bad this year? It is mostly due to the lack of actual government organised fireworks-related events, which has led to people buying their own fireworks with the result being more litter.
The most recent event at Glasgow Green that was directly organised by the council was in 2019.
The people of Glasgow would like to see these events reinstated which would help greatly with the environmental concerns and allow the holiday to be celebrated safely. However this event isn't planned to be reinstated as it would cost the council £350,000 which has been deemed too expensive.