MY FLARE IS PAST ITS PRIME / Flare Disposal?

http://boatnutmagazine.com/

 

MY FLARE IS PAST ITS PRIME

FROM AUSTRALIA:

Whilst it may not directly affect Personal Watercraft (PWCs) operating in NSW, some PWC operators may carry old distress flares that are requirements interstate like QLD. Or as a recreational boater you must carry flares and have some that are well past their use by date.

 

Please note; people are not allowed to hand in expired or unused distress flares to chandler’s (shops, outlets) or leave them with Marine Rescue units along the coast, or dispose of them in rubbish bins.

FROM THE UK:

With regard to disposal of old flares, the Government has created a farcical situation, which I have no doubt will result in very many flares joining the vast quantities of surplus military ordnance from 2 world wars at the bottom of the Hurd Deep and many of the other deep trenches around the European coast line. A more ecologically friendly solution is urgently required.  

Who is going to be out walking in filthy weather looking out to sea???  Pyrotechnics have had their day, but I believe France insists in them being carried and out of date ones invite a fine!

They are more of a safety hazard than the problem that they were there to solve.

 

When I lived in Coventry I 'disposed' of old flares each year on November 5th , wearing gloves and eye protection.  I took the view that practically no-one in the massively urbanised West Midlands would recognise any of these pyrotechnics as distress signals, and that anyone who did recognise them would simply smile knowingly about someone letting off their old flares on bonfire night.

 

BOAT NUT

Some countries and regions have adopted expired flare disposal programs, after reading of the response in Canada I think we will add flares to our Boating Green in 2916 Program for boaters

 

 

 

 

As Boat Nut Magazine is in the process of setting up our Green Marine Program and reading the discussion about flare disposal. We will be adding flare disposal to our agenda.

The Canadian Government legislated that all recreational boats must carry the appropriate number of marine flares for the size of boat, but they did not include methods of disposing of the expired flares.
Boaters must replace their flares every four years, thus creating a large buildup of expired flares in storage barns, garages etc, because boaters can't find out how to dispose of them properly.
Some are doing the unthinkable....
We have heard from boaters in Ontario in several places where they have been told to "soak the flares in water overnight and put them in the regular garbage". Many flares have a waterproof coating so the water may NOT get through leaving the chemicals active. Flares are not only explosive but are also hazardous waste and, although soaking them in water could prevent them flaring up, the chemicals are still there and should not go in the regular garbage. Putting the soaked flares in the garbage could put them in contact with other chemicals, causing even more serious consequences. Gases that could be produced could also be hazardous to human health.

Explosives and hazardous chemicals as those found in flares should be handled carefully and taken to a hazardous waste site for proper disposal.

After dozens of phone calls to people who I though should know, like our municipality, fire departments, OPP, Marinas, Power Squadrons, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Boating Ontario, Boaters, Fisheries and Oceans, Associations, our MPP's office and the Office of Boating Safety, I was somewhat frustrated because none of them could give me a proper procedure for disposing of expired marine flares.
Believe it or not, most just said "if you find out, let me know". But I was persistent and it paid off.

CIL/Orion's Cradle to Grave Policy

Finally, The Office of Boating Safety returned my most recent call and said they had followed up on my request and found a document that would answer my questions. It was  CIL/Orion's "cradle to grave policy" for CIL/Orion Marine Distress signals. I then called the president of CIL/Orion and learned that this 2009 policy is still in effect and Canadian boaters can send CIL/Orion Flares to them for disposal. They will accept other brands of flares, but there is an additional charge.
There are several brands of flares on the Canadian Market, but CIL/Orion is the only Canadian Manufacturer. They have been working with several levels of government and boating associations and police to get a proper policy in place. With so many agencies involved in the decision making, there is always one that won't co-operate so nothing gets done.
Getting permission for a state-of-the-art-disposal site is one stumbling block and the other is the gathering and shipping of the flares. For an individual boater with a few expired flares, it could cost him $50 - $70 to ship them to CIL/Orion.
Until the committee comes up with something better, it makes more sense for several boaters or even a marina or association or club to get together and split the cost of shipping expired flares back to CIL/Orion.

The Procedure for Disposing of Expired Marine Flares

So, thanks to CIL/Orion, we have a procedure for disposal of their flares. We would advise Canadian boaters to get together in groups, make a list of all the expired flares and send the list to  CIL/Orion. They will send you the right size and number of packages appropriately labeled "Explosive and Hazardous Material" for Purolator and the cost involved. Once received, you can fill the boxes then ship via Purolator to CIL/Orion.
This may not be the perfect answer, but it seems to be the best Canadian boaters have at the present time. We would recommend boaters in other countries contact the company who makes the flares and ask for a procedure to dispose of them.

Brenda Dawson

December 2011

 

To guarantee access to all of  Boat Nut Magazine articles, pictures and featured services visit the official Boat Nut Magazine ©™ website. Be sure to reply to the Boat Nut Association registration on our site for the latest Boat Nut weekly and monthly news letters and opportunities.

http://boatnutmagazine.com/

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided

 Connect with the Magazine web site