What Should I do With My Time Expired Flares?

Editor — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:01:27 +0000

Back in April, RYA 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 Out of date pyrotechnics should be landed ashore as soon as possible after the date of expiry for safe disposal. Damaged or out of date pyrotechnics should not be used.‘The public are asked not to put TEP’s in general household rubbish in or public litter bins where they can cause extensive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.

BH Marine » Flares

What Should I do With My Time Expired Flares?