By Basant El-Faramawy
Fireworks on Bonfire Night carry hidden costs that go far beyond the price on the box, according to a finance researcher who warns that the celebrations create negative externalities borne by the public, health services and wildlife.
Injuries strain NHS resources
Figures show 123 hospital admissions in England were attributed to fireworks in 2024–25, a count that excludes injuries treated without admission. While preventing such injuries may not directly reduce the NHS budget, it would free clinical time for other patients in an overstretched health service.
Air pollution carries unpriced environmental cost
Official air-quality monitoring records short-lived spikes in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) around Bonfire Night. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates a damage cost of £114,411 per tonne of PM2.5 emissions in 2025 prices, illustrating how a product can impose environmental costs that never appear on its receipt.
Wildlife and pets suffer disruption
A peer-reviewed Dutch study found approximately 1,000 times as many birds were flying during New Year’s Eve fireworks as on ordinary nights, with disruption extending several miles. Birds forced into sudden flight expend energy and lose rest opportunities, while pets and livestock may also be distressed by noise and smoke.
Physical waste adds to footprint
Spent casings and other debris leave a physical footprint alongside the noise and smoke, further contributing to the unaccounted costs of fireworks displays.
