Firecracker-free into the new year

The city of Jena recommends that all residents and guests welcome in the New Year cheerfully, but without fireworks. It is generally forbidden to set off fireworks in the immediate vicinity of hospitals, churches, children's and nursing homes and animal shelters. There are other good reasons to avoid New Year's Eve rockets, firecrackers and bangers on December 31:

Noise

When firecrackers go off, they make a noise of between 130 and 180 decibels. This noise is comparable to that of a jet taking off. Levels above 85 decibels are classified as harmful to health. This noise also causes fear in many animals and people.

Accidents

Fireworks are dangerous. Serious burns or loss of limbs can be the result of careless or incorrect handling of rockets, firecrackers and bangers. Fireworks can also cause fires, destroying houses and putting people in danger. Rescue services, fire departments and police therefore usually have to respond more frequently on New Year's Eve than on other nights. In addition to regular emergency patients, emergency room staff also have to treat patients who have been injured by fireworks. Fireworks should therefore never be set off by hand and should not be thrown at people or animals.

Fine dust

Fireworks produce a large amount of fine dust that is hazardous to health. According to the Federal Environment Agency, around 2050 tons of particulate matter are released every year in Germany through the setting off of fireworks - 75 percent of this on New Year's Eve alone. This corresponds to just under one percent of the total amount of particulate matter produced each year. For years, the city of Jena has been taking various measures to keep air pollution in the city as low as possible. It is therefore only logical to do everything in our power to keep the air in Jena as clean as possible on New Year's Eve.

Garbage

In the past, around 33 cubic meters of garbage has been produced by fireworks in Jena on New Year's Eve. While Kommunalservice Jena (KSJ) has two to three employees and one to two vehicles on duty on other public holidays, it has around 20 employees with ten vehicles on New Year's Eve. Removing all traces of the fireworks is time-consuming and takes up to a week. The additional costs for disposal and the work involved amount to around 15,000 euros.