getting rid of old flares

wotayottie

wotayottie

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In my area there is no facility at all, and I have accumulated 30 years worth in the garden shed. So whhat do others do to get rid of old flares?

Seems to me that the white and red flares are easy - bonfire night. Problem is the parachute flares and the smokes.

If your approach is, shall we say slightly dodgy in legal or enviro terms, then pm me please.
 
Not that anyone would recommend such a thing I understand some dispose of their own using an old iron water tank to contain the smoke and parachute. You, however, have to be really careful about the older flares as they can become unstable, potentially injuring you or whoever moves them.

There is a crowdfunding activity going on at the mo for a co to provide a disposal service around the country but I'm not convinced of their proposal and don't see what is in it for either side.

Or take them as a big bundle to a few flare amnesty events...
 
Before you all get enraged, this is not a serious solution. it is a jokette.

Sail to the R Thames. Find the wreck of SS Richard Montgomery. Chuck your explosives into the hold.

This is a Darwin solution.
 
When we replaced our flares the local chandlery took back several years collection FOC but we use them for most of our stuff and not just for emergencies.
 
Unfortunately they are going to miss their crowd funding targets by miles.

Campaign for IOW - £70 raised of £42,500 target - 10 days left
Campaign for Hampshire - £35 raised of £85,000 target - 19 days left
Campaign for Dorset - £0 raised of £85,000 target - 33 days left

I live on the Isle of Wight, I've got some old flares to dispose of and I had heard nothing about this, so it's not been well publicised.
 
I've got half a dozen I need rid of, so I phoned everybody but no one local (fire brigade, police etc.) would take them. The council waste management office recommended I immerse them in water then throw them in the wheelie bin :rolleyes:. So I intend to don my welding helmet and gauntlets on bonfire night and set them off in the middle of our neighbouring football pitch.
 
The RNLI in Poole will take a max of 12 but by appointment only and 24hrs notice.

Problems with disposal of flares, empty diving tanks will only encourage dumping at sea (tied to a brick if they float.)

Our local tip now charges ridiculous amounts to dispose of plasterboard and unused bags of plaster, cement etc which will only encourage fly tipping and dumping at sea!
 
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There's a notice in my local Force 4 chandlers (Bristol) that I'm pretty sure states that Milford Haven Coastguard will take them. IIRC there is a number to ring so it may well be by appointment and I've no idea if it's FOC. I think the OP's profile states he is in Swansea so I would have thought this location would be easier for him than for me in Bristol.

However, if the OP was purchasing new flares at the same time, I believe most of the 'over the counter' retailers (not mail order) will take in old flares - at least an equal number to those they're selling you.

In my case, I inherited a good few badly out-of-date flares when I bought a used boat at the start of the year. I used a commercial 'chandlers' in Avonmouth - Lifting Gear Services. Not only were they happy to take all my out of date flares, they provided replacements at extremely competitive prices. I 'batched up' my shopping list with them as I wanted some life jackets, etc serviced at the same time - everything was very keenly priced.

As long as you are happy to deal with a company operating out of an industrial estate, LGS are very happy to deal with us leisure boaters (some of their staff are themselves) and their prices (for their admittedly a limited range of essentials) make even the el cheapo chandlers look expensive.

No connection other than a very satisfied customer. I shall use them again when my latest set of flares need replacement.
 
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