Fireworks Collection Drive Yields 12 Kilograms of Illegal Fireworks
Residents of Leiden, Leiderdorp, Oegstgeest, Voorschoten, and Zoeterwoude were able to turn in their illegal fireworks for free and anonymously last Saturday. The campaign resulted in a total of 12 kilograms collected that day.
Residents who wanted to turn in illegal fireworks could do so between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the municipal storage yard on Hofweg in Voorschoten. A shipping container was set up there that day, where a special police team accepted the illegal fireworks anonymously. Over the course of the day, the pile grew to 12 kilograms of illegal fireworks.
Pleased with the initiative
Residents who took advantage of this opportunity were pleased with the initiative. Some were unaware that, in addition to firecrackers, items such as Chinese mats, avalanche rockets, and sparklers are also illegal. Others were aware of this but did not know where to take the dangerous fireworks. All of the fireworks that were turned in were picked up by a specialized company and will be destroyed.
Cooperation with the police, the Environmental Agency, and other municipalities
Mayor Nadine Stemerdink is pleased: “We worked together efficiently and harmoniously with the Hague Police Department, the West-Holland Environmental Agency, and all the other municipalities in the Leiden Region. This was the first time we set up a drop-off point. Next year, when fireworks are completely banned, we will definitely continue this initiative. After all, every kilogram of illegal fireworks that doesn’t end up on the streets counts!”