Easy Disposal of Marine Flares
- Thread starter oldmanofthehills
- Start date
Birdseye
Well-known member
The red and white hand flares are easy to get rid of - set them off at home pointing at the ground. The problem ones are the parahute flares and the smokes, the latter because of the powder they spew out.
Quite why the racing rule makers insist on dangerous fireworks on board, I do not know in these days of epirbs, plbs etc.
Quite why the racing rule makers insist on dangerous fireworks on board, I do not know in these days of epirbs, plbs etc.
KeithMD
Well-known member
I just wish that were always the case. Sod's Law seems to apply. Here's Force4 again. I can't buy new flares from their store at QAB marina in Plymouth, so I can't take the old ones the short distance from elsewhere in Plymouth, I'd have to drive 100+ miles to another store.
KeithMD
Well-known member
Fortunately, the GreenBlue has a map that helps.
Environmental Facilities Map - The Green Blue
East, North East & Scotland
Soth & South East
South West & Wales
Clicking the red dot on the map gave similar info.
Environmental Facilities Map - The Green Blue
East, North East & Scotland
Soth & South East
South West & Wales
Clicking the red dot on the map gave similar info.
dunedin
Well-known member
So according to that map nowhere at all from Norfolk-ish all the way up the East coast of the UK, round the North Coast and down to the Clyde. And nowhere in the islands, and reportedly not allowed on car on ferry to bring to mainland to dispose of.
Largs is listed as one place, but I think the disposal cost is £2.20 per flare.
Not sure the thread title “easy disposal” is very accurate. Don’t plan to buy any more.
KeithMD
Well-known member
Looks like I'll be going to Ocean Safety in Plymouth.
And, yes, it looks like tough luck for anyone on the entire east coast between Shetlands and Lincolnshire ?!?!
And, yes, it looks like tough luck for anyone on the entire east coast between Shetlands and Lincolnshire ?!?!
penberth3
Well-known member
Individual sites might not have authority to accept hazardous wastes, and have no obligation to do so. "Giant sparklers" need proper disposal with regard to emissions and residues, it has to be done legally.
Baddox
Well-known member
I notice that Newcastle is a long way from any of the disposal centres listed on the map, fortunately our local tip accepted 15 mixed flares from me a few months ago. I called their office first and they confirmed they will accept anything except asbestos, so it’s worth trying.
ylop
Well-known member
I don’t think that list is definitive. I’ve not been in Bosuns locker (Port Edgar) but they certainly used to. Would be surprised if none of the Liferaft Service Stations in Aberdeen would take them (for a fee - they are Aberdonian ;-)) especially if you were getting your liferaft serviced at the time, and Sea Gear in Kirkwall will supply and dispose just as examples that aren’t on the map.
doug748
Well-known member
Lightwave395
Well-known member
I'm curious, not understanding pyrotechnics, if you 'bury' them in water for long enough do they become inert ?
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
Not reliably. They're designed for a marine environment so they're at least somewhat waterproof!
ylop
Well-known member
Probably not. You can actually launch (at least some) rocket flares whilst completely submersed!
awol
Well-known member
How about disassembling the TEPs and burning the flammables? There must be a Youtube video on "How to ...."
AngusMcDoon
Well-known member
doug748
Well-known member
Someone said you can put them on a bonfire, which sounds hugely dodgy especially for parachute flares.
So in a questing frame of mind I gave it a go. Being fortunate to have a very remote spot and dressed in full flack suit with flame retardant underwear, I raked aside some very hot ashes put the article in and buried it with burning timber on top. I then legged it to a safe distance and stationed myself in the lee of a blast proof building (shed).
After about ten minutes nothing but a bit of fizzing, another ten minutes and I figured it was safe to go. As I was tidying up there was a very impressive crump and a horizontal blast of hot cinders, maybe 15 ft or so. Later I noticed my asbestos underpants had become singed. So whatever you do don't follow the loony advice to burn pyrotechnics.
.
WoodyP
Well-known member
Are you sure it was singeing that caused the brown markSomeone said you can put them on a bonfire, which sounds hugely dodgy especially for parachute flares.
So in a questing frame of mind I gave it a go. Being fortunate to have a very remote spot and dressed in full flack suit with flame retardant underwear, I raked aside some very hot ashes put the article in and buried it with burning timber on top. I then legged it to a safe distance and stationed myself in the lee of a blast proof building (shed).
After about ten minutes nothing but a bit of fizzing, another ten minutes and I figured it was safe to go. As I was tidying up there was a very impressive crump and a horizontal blast of hot cinders, maybe 15 ft or so. Later I noticed my asbestos underpants had become singed. So whatever you do don't follow the loony advice to burn pyrotechnics.
.
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
Those "flammables" are explosives!
veshengro
Well-known member
A comment purely as info and not a recommendation or suggestion, I know from experience that Military Parachute flares if soaked in light oil for about a month fail to ignite, at least on that occasion. Some Doughnut in supply had accidently allowed light lube oil to leak into an unsealed metal container resulting in the bottom layer, 4, flares being completely US after being submerged. Normally they are as waterproof as Marine flares, but oil saturated they didn't want to play on that ( Training) occasion.
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
But the igniter relies on friction, so getting it wet with a lubricant might defeat it. The charge would be unchanged.