Disposing of expired flares

AngusMcDoon

AngusMcDoon

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I've found a new way!

Letting them off? Nah, illegal.

Coastguard? Almost impossible now, you have to make appointments, a big faff.

Asking plod politely at your local nick? Some might, but others tell you to eff off sharpish.

so....

just take them down to the local plod office, but instead of telling them that they are yours and you would be very grateful if they could possibly dispose of them for you, just say you were proceding down the local street in an orderly manner, and happened upon these curious dangerous looking items in the middle of the pavement, and being a good citizen you were handing them in to help society by stopping them falling into the hands of the nearest yob and otherwise they were absolutely nothing to do with you, no sir, I just found them, and no I don't want them back if they are still unclaimed in 6 weeks.

Can't see how they could refuse that one /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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I have been trying to get rid of some very out of date flares for three years now.

No one will take them. Oban Coastguard has an explosives locker, but it is full and they are waiting for the navy to empty it. I suspect they may be waiting some time.

Clyde Coastguard's advice is to put them in a metal box.

I now have some extremely dodgy looking explosive devices in my garden shed. I wonder if my buildings insurance will pay up if I blow the end of the terrace off.

What I find incredible is that these devices are still being sold without any thought being given to their eventual decommissioning and disposal. I can only assume that the whole project is being managed by British Nuclear Fuels.

I don't think I will be bringing any more dangerously out of date flares ashore to store indefinitely in my shed, and I doubt I will get planning permission for an explosives store. I think they will be going overboard well offshore into deep water, as this seems to be the safest - though probably not greenest - option.

- W
 
Or you could dunk em in water, plonk them on the beach, turn around "find" them in front of you. Then, phone the coastguard and say you've just found these red and yellow tubes on the beach, and as a good citizen you'll stay with them until they arrive to pick them up......

That would be very wrong though......wouldn't it?

Best not dress like a yottie, or wear deck shoes though or you might get rumbled /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
If you are annoyed or alarmed by the inability to dispose of expired pyrotechnics then an anonymous person at Clyde Coastguard advised me to complain by

a) Phoning Recbecca Binstead at MCA head office on 02380 329486

and

b) Writing to:

John Griffiths
HM Coastguard
Navy Buildings
Eldon Street
Greenock
PA16 7QY

- W
 
I was in a chandlery on Saturday that was offering to take old flares off my hands for £1.50 each. Is that a bargain or a rip-off?

Mark
 
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just take them down to the local plod office, but instead of telling them that they are yours and you would be very grateful if they could possibly dispose of them for you, just say you were proceding down the local street in an orderly manner

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Watch out, by admitting that you may well get beaten to the ground before having a heart attack from the shock. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
One would think that the various vendors or manufacturers would have worked out a disposal solution.
Maybe simplistic but why not have their disposal linked to the supply/sale of up to date flares; or alternatively, a collection made from chandleries selling them and disposed of safely by the manufacturers. OK I expect the makers would want to charge a nominal fee, but job would be done - properly
Why doesn't yer Elf and Safety mob jump on the bandwagon on this important item.
 
Marine Superstore at Port Solent took some from us free of charge the other day, as we bought some new ones there to replace. This is no help if you live in Scotland, admittedly!
 
i have disposed of a couple of lots of very old flares left from when we bought the boat, just take them to a police station a long way away from the sea, i dropped them off saying i needed to hand these flares in for disposal, they said what are they and gave me a receipt!
 
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they will be going overboard - W

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Disgraceful !
It doesn't take the brains of an Archbishop to realise that if you take the flares to a Police Station they will take them off your hands and arrange proper disposal. They're hardly likely to let you take the flares back out into the street are they!
Throwing unwanted items overboard, Webby, is one of the things which gives yachties a bad name. I'm shocked that you should suggest this, even worse for a dangerous item.
The seas are not our dustbin !!!
 
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Marine Superstore at Port Solent took some from us free of charge the other day, as we bought some new ones there to replace. This is no help if you live in Scotland, admittedly!

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Went in there yesterday, and they do indeed have a sign up saying they will take the old out of date flares packs off your hands when you buy a new pack from them. Makes sense really
 
If you have a big pile of wet leafs you want to get rid of in the autumn then the red hand flares work well and no one can see it as it is deeply buried under the leafs and it gets the fire going quickly without lots of faffing around /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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If you have a big pile of wet leafs you want to get rid of in the autumn then the red hand flares work well and no one can see it as it is deeply buried under the leafs and it gets the fire going quickly without lots of faffing around /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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And what do you do for a Parachute flare ? Or Smoke Signal ? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Marine Superstore at Port Solent took some from us free of charge the other day, as we bought some new ones there to replace. This is no help if you live in Scotland, admittedly!

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What!!!
I bought a full RORC set from them last month at huge cost. When I asked them about disposal of the old ones I was handed a photocopy with the contact details of the coastguard. I rang the number I thinking I could drop them off on the way home but was told I must drop them round at their collection point on a specific date (a month away) and specific time during the week.

Absolutely no use to me. Presumably they are making it as inconvenient as possible so that no one makes use of the service.

I'm planning on leaving mine in the garage and moving house....
 
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If you have a big pile of wet leafs you want to get rid of in the autumn then the red hand flares work well and no one can see it as it is deeply buried under the leafs and it gets the fire going quickly without lots of faffing around /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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And what do you do for a Parachute flare ? Or Smoke Signal ? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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With a parchute flare, you can light next door's bonfire as well.
 
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November the 5th is a good excuse for getting rid! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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I hope this reply was in jest, setting off out of date rocket flares within range of other persons or property is just f***g stupid.
 
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