Beijing sanitation office reported on Monday that remains of fireworks used in celebrations to welcome the Lunar New Year were lesser this year compared to 2015.

According to the agency, about 2,000 workers cleaned up the streets after the celebration, gathering slightly more than 400 tonnes of firework debris in 24 hours. This is nearly 34 percent lesser compared to the amount of firework debris gathered in 2015.

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Studies reveal that a slowdown in firework sales in the last five years in the capital city Beijing is largely accountable for people's heightened environmental awareness.

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, there was only approximately 34 tonnes of fireworks trash gathered after the city issued a firework ban that took effect on Jan. 1 - most of these debris were from suburban areas.

Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, has also adapted a similar ban like Shanghai and has reported lesser fireworks debris, only about 12 tonnes, compared with 90 tonnes and 225 tonnes in 2015 and 2014, respectively. 

Before, Jilin's capital Changchuung, was frequently blanketed with smog. After announcing a ban on fireworks in August 2014, the density of PM 2.5 significantly dropped in 2015 by almost 21 percent compared with that in 2014. 

However, Hangzhou, Changchung and Shanghai are not the only cities to implement a ban on fireworks. In fact, according to the Ministry of Public Service, up to 138 cities have banned the use of fireworks, while nearly 540 cities have set restrictions for the time and place the fireworks can be used.

Although the ban represents good news for China's worsening air quality, some netizens seem to have problems with it - especially those who have grown accustomed with Chinese traditions of lighting fireworks during New Year celebrations. Some would like to continue the practice that as started thousands of years ago, while others suggest the government should set up its own firework display for the public to see. 

A survey by a local municipal bureau in Shanghai revealed that almost 90 percent of the city's residents are in favor of the banning fireworks, while the rest feel they should preserve China's tradition. Zhang Lin, a resident of Changchun, suggests that the government should look for other ways to control or lessen pollution but still preserve the Chinese culture.

TagsYear of the Monkey, Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year 2016, CNY 2016, fireworks, firework ban