By Basant El-Faramawy
Bonfire Night fireworks bring hidden economic and environmental costs not reflected in their purchase price, according to a finance researcher.
Negative externalities
The enjoyment of fireworks is concentrated in time while the consequences are spread among households, public services and wildlife, a concept economists call a “negative externality.”
Health impacts
Figures show 123 hospital admissions in England attributed to fireworks in 2024–25, excluding cases treated without admission. Preventing such injuries could free clinical time in an overstretched NHS.
Air pollution
UK air-quality monitoring records short-lived spikes in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) around Bonfire Night. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs assigns a central estimated damage cost of £114,411 per tonne of PM2.5 emissions, expressed in 2025 prices.
Wildlife disruption
A peer-reviewed Dutch study found approximately 1,000 times as many birds 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 resting opportunities, while pets and livestock also suffer distress.
Physical waste
Spent casings and other debris leave a physical footprint after displays.
