HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – With Independence Day falling on a Friday, fireworks could be heard echoing around the Tennessee Valley throughout the weekend. Days later, the evidence is still in the air and scattered all over the ground.
“it looks really bad and it makes our environment less safe for animals, it’s bad for tourism,” said Jamie Mitchell with Alabama People Against a Littered State.
When they explode, fireworks release chemicals including carbon monoxide, sulfur, and particulate matter, which are harmful to our hearts and lungs, as well as the environment. They also scatter paper and plastic debris.
“All of these little pieces and particles can become things for animals to get tangled up in, eat,” said Jamie Mitchell with Alabama People Against a Littered State,” Mitchell said., “It can get in our waterways and can contaminate our waterways. There are lots of heavy metals and things like that that are in fireworks, so we want to make sure that all of that gets picked up and contained.”
Alabama PALS organizes statewide litter cleanups with ALDOT. Mitchell said Independence Day gatherings and concerts can also leave behind a lot of trash.
“There’s a lot of picnic-type debris also from parties and things like that,” she said, “Try to find every little piece of it if you can.”
Mitchell said failing to pick up fireworks or party debris can result in a hefty fine ranging from $500 to $32,000. She said you can join a cleanup crew, like Keep Alabama Beautiful or Huntsville’s Green Team, or ask Alabama PALS for cleanup supplies.
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