While sparklers are easy to set off, they're not easy to recycle. In fact, you can't recycle them at all. They also emit a lot of the same toxins and pollutants that fireworks set off. So while they're fun and part of many people's 4th of July festivities, it's better to find new traditions instead.

Do fireworks cause pollution?

And even though fireworks only result in temporary increases in local air pollution, fireworks air pollution can travel for miles and cause bad air quality around the world, making the effects of air pollution more severe even in regions that never see a fireworks show.

How much do fireworks pollute?

As a national average, culled from 315 different testing sites, Independence Day fireworks introduce 42 percent more pollutants into the air than are found on a normal day.