Expired Flares

[zinahewitt]

Hi All,

I got a liferaft from some old timer who decided he won't be circling the world.
Can't say it is in great condition but I figure I can refurbish it or at least learn enough so I can refurbish a newer one.

So my question is
How do I dispose of the flares.
They are "Rusty" and I'd estimate 12 years old.

California won't accept them.
There is a collection once a year at some random location they disclose to you 3 days before for 2 hours on a Saturday when your kid has a soccer game and your car has a flat which obv you always miss.

I don't want to keep them in my house, definitely not in my boat.
I also don't need a lecture about the environment and legal issues.
If you must feel like giving a lecture then what can I do, this is social media.

How would you get rid of them ?

 

[kappykaplan]

Do you have a Coast Guard Auxiliary in the area? If so, I'd check with them.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Maybe check with local yacht clubs. Ours has a sock burning at the start of each season that includes flare practice. Lots of fun, and quite educational.

If it’s any comfort I don’t think I’ve ever heard of expired flares spontaneously combusting. The bigger concern is that they might not light when needed, though in our practice sessions I think we’ve only seen one or two duds out of probably over a hundred expired flares. That includes flares that expired around WWII and still worked.

 

[zinahewitt]

Do you have a Coast Guard Auxiliary in the area? If so, I'd check with them.

I checked, they have no interest in 20 year old flares and told me to hold on to them and wait for the once a year dump.
Obv, I don't want to keep them for a year or a month so no luck.....

 

[zinahewitt]

Maybe check with local yacht clubs. Ours has a sock burning at the start of each season that includes flare practice. Lots of fun, and quite educational.

If it’s any comfort I don’t think I’ve ever heard of expired flares spontaneously combusting. The bigger concern is that they might not light when needed, though in our practice sessions I think we’ve only seen one or two duds out of probably over a hundred expired flares. That includes flares that expired around WWII and still worked.

They are super old, like damaged from the humidity that somehow made it into the liferaft.
I am 90% confident they would just blow up.

 

[Rick Webb]

Strap them around your body and walk around town. The "state" guys will show up and take them from you pretty quick

 

[Foswick]

They are truly unlikely to be more dangerous than brand new flares, so long as you do not ignite them. They will not spontaneously ignite.

The mostly likely result of their age and degradation is that they will not light or will not burn consistently. There is some risk that the casing is degraded so that, if you did manage to ignite them, they might break apart and discharge unpredictably. That's honestly about it. Just don't be careless and don't just throw them away (which you clearly already know).

Call a couple of fire stations (if the first one you call doesn't give you the answer you want). Explain that you are trying to responsibly dispose of them and everyone is telling you they can't take them. I can't imagine a fire station not being helpful with this. (I used to be a firefighter.)

But, if you get absolutely no help, I think this is in your neighborhood:

Multiple Coastal Jurisdictions Partner with State on Expired Marine Flare Collection Events - Recyclemore (This was last year, but there is probably another one coming up.)

... and this ...

Disposal of Expired Marine Flares in California

California State Parks

dbw.parks.ca.gov

Also near you, I think, but they take road flares but explicitly NOT marine flares: Residential: What We Accept - Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility

 

[colemj]

When we were in Georgia, I took a bunch of expired flares to the fire department and they took them no problem. They said they have controlled burns for practice sessions and would just throw them in there.

Mark

 

[colemj]

Call a couple of fire stations (if the first one you call doesn't give you the answer you want). Explain that you are trying to responsibly dispose of them and everyone is telling you they can't take them. I can't imagine a fire station not being helpful with this. (I used to be a firefighter.)

I'd suggest personally taking them to a fire department instead of calling. Calling might get you a disinterested person or someone who doesn't understand over the phone what you have/want. Taking them there lets them see the flares and immediately understand the situation. There's also a higher chance of there being one guy in the bunch who is excited about the opportunity.

Mark

 

[shemandr]

I gave away my life raft a few years ago but do not yet see myself as an "Old timer."
I think the best thing to do about flares is not to buy them any longer. The electric flare is a good alternative and doesn't need disposal (Except for batteries). If you are worried that it can't be seen as readily consider that if you are relying on some random boater to see your visual distress signals you're in deep trouble anyway. Today we have very good electronic signaling of various forms that are very effective. Flares are just a check box for law enforcement to maintain an archaic and ineffective system of signaling.
Here in Martin County FL we have regular (Monthly) Haz Mat days. If I had flares (And I don't for reasons stated in the OP) I would take them there.

 

[Tally Ho]

Are they hand-held or aerials?

I replaced my pyro flares with an electronic flare years ago, and used the hand-helds as fire starters in my burning barrel.

Being in California, maybe you can’t burn anything outside…

Fire Department seems like a reasonable option.


Greg

 

[SteveHughessails]

Same thing up here in Canada too. Fire dept. won’t take them. I have heard the yacht club does but haven’t asked yet. Dangerous goods drop off pops up once a year, hoping to catch it.

 

[JBP-PA]

Our police department takes them.

 

[colemj]

I think the best thing to do about flares is not to buy them any longer.

I agree, and we have an electronic flare now instead of pyros, but the OP's flares came from a life raft. Having just researched and bought a life raft, they all come with pyro flares still. So at some level, one does not have a choice of no longer buying them.

Mark

 

[zinahewitt]

I gave away my life raft a few years ago but do not yet see myself as an "Old timer."
I think the best thing to do about flares is not to buy them any longer. The electric flare is a good alternative and doesn't need disposal (Except for batteries). If you are worried that it can't be seen as readily consider that if you are relying on some random boater to see your visual distress signals you're in deep trouble anyway. Today we have very good electronic signaling of various forms that are very effective. Flares are just a check box for law enforcement to maintain an archaic and ineffective system of signaling.
Here in Martin County FL we have regular (Monthly) Haz Mat days. If I had flares (And I don't for reasons stated in the OP) I would take them there.

Well the guy was 80, so he can proudly wear the old timer.

Batteries are not very reliable in an emergency.

So you get a Flashlight and Flares....

 

[zinahewitt]

Our police department takes them.

You are not California.

We make Kafka look like a noob....

 

[zinahewitt]

Same thing up here in Canada too. Fire dept. won’t take them. I have heard the yacht club does but haven’t asked yet. Dangerous goods drop off pops up once a year, hoping to catch it.

I am not sure it will align this year, Mercury is in retrograde.


I thought Canada was a modern country but I can see you have a CA in you.

 

[53neptuneman]

I had huge problems getting rid of my old flares. I believe the manufacturer should be responsible for sites where these flares can be disposed at.

 

[shemandr]

...Well the guy was 80, so he can proudly wear the old timer...

Phew! I have ten years left before I can assume that moniker. Not that I think it's an insult. And I'll be happy to get there. Right now guys my age are dropping like flies.

 

[zinahewitt]

Phew! I have ten years left before I can assume that moniker. Not that I think it's an insult. And I'll be happy to get there. Right now guys my age are dropping like flies.

Sorry to hear that, must be rough losing people your age.