The large municipalities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are not expecting any general restrictions on New Year’s Eve fireworks this year – with the exception of protection zones. In some municipalities, firecracker fans should not get their money’s worth.
Schwerin (dpa / mv) – The municipalities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania do not expect a general ban on fireworks on New Year’s Eve. In Rostock, Schwerin, Greifswald, Stralsund, Wismar and Neubrandenburg, those responsible have so far only planned with the usual restricted areas, for example around churches, hospitals, children’s and old people’s homes and other buildings at risk of fire.
Among other things, thatched houses are at risk, which means that in some Baltic Sea resorts no fireworks will actually be allowed. As the “Ostseezeitung” recently reported, Dierhagen on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula is an exception. According to spa director Stephan Fellmann, fixed burning sites have been installed and public fireworks are also offered on the beach.
In Rostock, the first deputy mayor, Chris von Wrycz Rekowski, stated: “For a general ban on firecrackers, the federal and state governments would have to create the conditions, which is currently unknown. This cannot be determined by municipal decision at the moment.” The city still wants to check whether ban zones need to be set up for environmental reasons. In the past two years, the state government had imposed nationwide restrictions due to the corona pandemic.
According to a spokeswoman for the state capital of Schwerin, environmental organizations have repeatedly pushed for a ban on firecrackers with reference to fine dust pollution, but a restriction is not planned this year so far.
The environmental protection association BUND in the state is still in favor of a ban on fireworks for private individuals. “Fireworks pollute people, animals and the environment with noise, waste and particulate matter and should therefore be reduced to a minimum,” said marine biologist Pauline Damer. Moving celebrations to the beaches – to protect the thatched houses – does not solve the problem. Damer also pointed out the danger of microplastics, which could also find their way into our food chain.
