Flares disposal?

[TheBoatman]

I know that this has been discussed many times on this forum but as a member of a YC I'm being asked how our members can dispose of out-of-date flares?

I'm still no better off after all the discussion.

We (my club) have a relatively large number of out of date flares to dispose of!

Can anyone advise me?

Peter
The Boatman.

 

[oldsaltoz]

The last set I disposed of went to the local Air sea rescue, That would be the life boat mob for your location.

They use up the old ones in demonstrations.

 

[JayBee]

This is from the latest RYA Cruising News:

Quote:

Back in April, Cruising News reported on the rather combustible issue of disposing of Time Expired Pyrotechnics (TEP), the main problem being that people were unsure of what on earth to do with them.

No-one has ever objected to renewing their flares every three years; it’s an expense, but you really can’t put a price on safety. The issue has been that since 2004 it has become increasingly difficult to get rid of your old flares, meaning that some of us have been inadvertently stockpiling explosives.

Whilst these don’t quite amount to weapons of mass destruction, it’s hardly safe to have a selection of explosives in your shed and the RYA has been pressing hard for some answers from the relevant authorities.
Since then, the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued the following advice:

‘If you are a leisure user and you wish to dispose of your TEP’s, contact your local Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and inform them of the number and their condition, the coastguard will then be able to advise whether it is able to accept your TEP’s and will discuss arrangements for you to deliver them to the appropriate storage facility.

‘Not all Coastguard MRCC’s have storage facilities and some may be a considerable distance from the MRCC, it is important to contact the MRCC to make arrangements to arrange for someone to be available to receive TEPs at these locations at a mutually agreed time.

‘The MCA has no statutory duty to dispose of these pyrotechnics, but recognises the potential danger to the public if these devices are not disposed of correctly. Out of date pyrotechnics should be landed ashore as soon as possible after the date of expiry for safe disposal. Damaged or out of date pyrotechnics should not be used.

‘The public are asked not to put TEP’s in general household rubbish in or public litter bins where they can cause extensive damage to refuse collection facilities and may injure persons who come into contact with them.’

RYA Cruising Manager Stuart Carruthers is happy with this step forward and feels that RYA pressure has helped to bring about a change.

“I don’t think this is the final answer to this problem, but it is a step in the right direction because we have an organisation taking responsibility for the problem, and we have to welcome that” Stuart added.

Unquote

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
I know that this has been discussed many times on this forum but as a member of a YC I'm being asked how our members can dispose of out-of-date flares?

I'm still no better off after all the discussion.

We (my club) have a relatively large number of out of date flares to dispose of!

Can anyone advise me?

Peter
The Boatman.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to collect flares from all over Kent, but it is a bit far nowadays sorry.

If you give Dover CG a call they will probably be able to take them, they do have a storage facility on site but if you have lots they may well ask you to time your visit to match their collection date.

Failing that do a deal with whoever supplies your safety kits.

 

[gjgm]

I phoned the local police station and asked, and they said, sure, just bring them in. Ok it was Hythe, Southampton, so maybe they are familiar with this...

 

[Landale]

There were ads from the mcga in both Yachting World and Yachting Monthly currently - essentally for leisure users just ring your local MRCC and they will advise you of where to take them.

I saw the ad and rang Milford a couple of weeks ago and got rid of 2 packs - so it works

 

[Ariadne]

When I tried to take a load into the police station in Aberystwyth, I nearly got arrested under the anti-terrorism laws!! Didn't want to know about a member of the public trying to dispose of some dangerous explosives in a responsible manner, with no other means of doing so.

Very unhelpfull, very very aggressive, and very suspicious. They got really stroppy when I mentioned that if I took them to a football match, they would take them off me and dispose of them very quickly! No scense of humor the Old Bill!

I felt like leaving them in a dustbin outside the police station, but it had been removed in case somebody stuck a bomb in it!!!!!!!!!!

I did find out that the MCA had a launch in the area, and they took them off me no problem.

 

[Cantata]

Peter, the local CG's in our area say they cannot take them any more. But AFAIK Dover CG will take them if you ring them to arrange it, but you will have to take them down there yourself.
Otherwise, I'm told that most police stations will take them but I haven't tried that. I know specifically that Canterbury have taken them in the recent past.
Good luck.

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
I know that this has been discussed many times on this forum but as a member of a YC I'm being asked how our members can dispose of out-of-date flares?

I'm still no better off after all the discussion.

We (my club) have a relatively large number of out of date flares to dispose of!

Can anyone advise me?

Peter
The Boatman.

[/ QUOTE ]

RYA E-News today was quoting MCA letter - saying that contact local CG and they will advise of nearest disposal point.

But I bet some CG don't !!

 

[alldownwind]

[ QUOTE ]
RYA E-News today was quoting MCA letter - saying that contact local CG and they will advise of nearest disposal point. But I bet some CG don't !!

[/ QUOTE ]
I am a CG in Peter's area, and what Cantata says is accurate. Not the same everywhere though, it depends what storage facilities individual CG sites have. Also depends on willingness of the military to take them off the CG - if they stop, then that's the end of it.

 

[l'escargot]

Local police take them on the Isle of Wight with no questions - there is even an official form for handing them over. You should take it up with local Police HQ - try an official complaint, they have to respond to that.

 

[wotayottie]

maybe set the hand held flares off at bonfire night provided your bonfire isnt on the beach or near any boating water. its only against the rules cos they sensibly dont want lives lost with false call outs etc and you can avoid any real risk of this if they are ignited in the hand amongst loads of other fireworks and well inland. what you could do with the para flares I dont know.

if the authorities are stupid enough to tell us to get rid and then to fail to accept them for disposal, it seems to me they are inviting people to ignore the laws. bit like their original attitude to fridges set off fly tipping.

 

[TamarMike]

[ QUOTE ]
I am a CG in Peter's area, and what Cantata says is accurate. Not the same everywhere though, it depends what storage facilities individual CG sites have. Also depends on willingness of the military to take them off the CG - if they stop, then that's the end of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

So if they eventually go to the military how about leaving them outside the dockyard gates (make sure the MODPLODS aren't looking & wear a Burkha for disguise) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif