Disposing of flares to Davy Jones' locker

alahol2 said:
Back to the original question. Take them to the property office at Fratton police station (Kingston Crescent) next time you are in Portsmouth. Disposed of a dozen or so 15 year out of date flares a couple of weeks back. No appointment, no formalities, no forms, didn't even ask my name.
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Strangely, that's where I went a year or two back, they said 'no problem' on the phone, when I got there I thought they were looking for something to nick me for.
 
webcraft said:
Thank you. I thought it was a reasonable point of view - for an idiot :rolleyes:

- W
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What about countries that insist you have pyrotechnic flares? Like portugal, spain, france etc. Who fine you for not having them? I have to have flares and in date, which is a problem, as I have a bunch of out of date flares, to get rid of.
I did see at a police station once, (in Great Yarmouth I think) a big thick steel drum like affair, like a giant steel oildrum, gas fired from below, with clamped up hatch and chimney on top, where they used to dispose of all kinds of pyrotechnics and old/illegal fireworks. Why cant there be a few of those scattered around the country, where the old flares are bunged in and burnt, safely?
ps, it may have been a fire station??
 
I asked at my local council refuse disposal site today if they would take out of date flares.
There reply was we have a special container full of the things which we cant get rid of, so no go there.I think it will have to be an explosive dumping site in the inner sound near the crowlin islands its an 830 ft deep hole there
 
Apart from the well publicised accident of a few years ago I'm not aware of other injuries caused by the use of flares. Presumably if malfunction or misuse was a substantial problem we'd hear more about it.

I shall continue to set off older handheld and parachute flares at home on 5 November. Being 10 miles from the sea and having no close neighbours I cannot see anything wrong with such action. On 5 November there are lots of pyrotechnics so there cannot be any question of false alarm.

Setting off time expired flares, in such safe circumstances, has a major advantage. It give familiarity of use. My wife and I have each set off perhaps a dozen or so, over the last 10 years. We are more confident about the use of flares and, in the unfortunate case of firing one at sea, will hopefully be significantly safer as a result.

I wonder what proportion of forum members have practised setting off flares?
 
Coaster said:
Apart from the well publicised accident of a few years ago I'm not aware of other injuries caused by the use of flares. Presumably if malfunction or misuse was a substantial problem we'd hear more about it.

I shall continue to set off older handheld and parachute flares at home on 5 November. Being 10 miles from the sea and having no close neighbours I cannot see anything wrong with such action. On 5 November there are lots of pyrotechnics so there cannot be any question of false alarm.

Setting off time expired flares, in such safe circumstances, has a major advantage. It give familiarity of use. My wife and I have each set off perhaps a dozen or so, over the last 10 years. We are more confident about the use of flares and, in the unfortunate case of firing one at sea, will hopefully be significantly safer as a result.

I wonder what proportion of forum members have practised setting off flares?
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I can see the problems of setting off parachute flares and the problems of them still being a light at touch down but it makes perfect sense to me to set off the hand flares as you would any other firework on Nov 5, Divalli, New Year etc
It really is about time they started to get phased out starting with the parachute flares.
(To a certain extent this has started. The recommended quantities has been reduced for private leisure craft.)
 
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USA Looking For Alternatives to Pyrotechnics

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The US Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) is conducting market research to identify technologies that are a suitable alternative to current requirements for pyrotechnic VDSDs as the final link in distress alerting and locating. The parameters include personal and vessel distress signal devices regardless of weather conditions or the time of day/night for visual detection. The common methods of detection include the unaided eye, electro-optical equipment, or other sensor types. Information on devices that rely on Light Emitting Diode (LED), laser, or other high-intensity technology is preferred, however any viable VDSD technologies will be considered.

Looks like the Government might finally let you decide on how to save your life by providing a list of alternatives.
 
Pete7 said:
You could have a read of this incident and are you aware that flares, unlike fireworks, continue to burn after landing?
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Thanks for the link. I do remember reading about the incident. Thank goodness no-one was hurt by the vandalism.

I appreciate that flares, once ignited, are not easily extinguished. We have deliberately dropped several on the ground, on 5 November. At that time of the year, and in the location we use, there is no risk of setting fire to anything other than a very small amount of vegetation.

It's been a while since we last practised but, as far as I can remember, the parachute flares seemed to stop burning before they reached the ground. They would of course remain hot for some minutes.

The principal lessons we have learnt so far include:

* The heat produced is considerable. Have a leather gauntlet.

* Instructions can't be read in the dark.

* Instructions can't be read without glasses, by those that need them.

* Wind direction is important.
 
A lot of French marinas have disposal facilities for out of date flares, our small marina included.
French regulations have for some time allowed a DSC VHF radio in lieu of flares.
 
ostell said:
If things haven't changed the OP should be able to detour slightly and go to the MCA at Lee on Solent. Managed that about 8 months ago. Phone first.
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----------if you are refering to me as the other poster----i have never got rid of out of date flares---i have kept them ----setting them in concrete was just a solution for someone who was miles from a disposal facility----------nobody would want me to bring ashore the some of the things i have dumped by bouys----regards lenten
 
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