Green crackers

Why in news?

Delhi government imposes ban on all types of firecrackers till January 1 to control air pollution during the winter season.

What are green crackers?

Green Crackers are fireworks that are healthy to the environment and can lessen the air pollution that conventional firecrackers produce.

TheCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)created these.

These green crackers, designed by theNational Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), a CSIR lab, contain flower pots, pencils, fireworks, maroons, bombs, and chakkar.

How are they made?

Green crackers, also known as eco-friendly crackers, are made from alternative raw materials to have a smaller negative impact on the environment and to pose fewer health hazards.

It has been stated that green crackers are environmentally friendly because theydon’t contain aluminum, barium, potassium nitrate, or carbon.

Green crackers are30% less pollutingthan regular ones.

Green crackers haveless or no barium, and that the chemical barium nitrate is what causes the smoke and emissions.

In addition to lowering air pollution, green crackers are said to have alower sound levelthan the ordinary crackers—between 110 and 125 decibels as opposed to roughly 160 decibels for conventional crackers.

Despite all of their benefits, these environmentally friendly firecrackers aremore expensive than standard ones.

Types of green crackers

(1) SWAS – Safe Water Releaser

They willdischarge water vapourinto the atmosphere, which will dampen the discharged dust.

It won’t contain sulphur or potassium nitrate.

There will be a release of a diluent for gaseous emissions.

There will be a 30% reduction in the amount of particle dust emitted.

(2) STAR – Safe Thermite Cracker

Does not contain sulphur and potassium nitrate

Discharge of less particulate matter

Lowered noise level

(3) SAFAL – Safe Minimal Aluminum

Does not contain sulphur and potassium nitrate

Discharge of less particulate matter

Lowered noise level as compared to traditional ones