Disposal of flares

[Mike B]

Was looking up how to get rid of my out of date flares (I already have a retired spare set and am building up a bit of collection.)

Found this latest info from the MCA.

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-...rotechnics.htm

Nice 200 mile round trip to Milford Haven for me!! What a joke!

Surely this is just going to encourage people to either stock pile old flares or just set them off.

Mike

[BruceB]

I intend to set any TEP's off on Nov 5th. I mean, with the size of fireworks and scale of the displays who is going to be able to tell

[giddyup]

I would love to set one off. Mine are out of date also. i have thought of taking a walk at dusk and letting one of the red and an orange smoke off where few would know what it meant (out in the country). I have never held a burning flare! The other option is to go to the Champions League and let them off in the crowd

[willk]

Originally Posted by giddyup

i have thought of taking a walk at dusk and letting one of the red and an orange smoke off where few would know what it meant (out in the country

yew nobbur eyvun de wurrzells noe dat der is no smowke wythowt fyre n yew wyl get a frie cowlyonik frum de lokul fyre deepartmint

[ed_dash]

Your meant to take them to Milford Haven but i know of a few people who plead ignorant and take them to the local skip (in Newport, Gwent). Say you have just found them and are not sure what to do with them. It maybe worth a try before setting out on your long trip.

[GordyP]

If there not years out of date and you have room I would leave them on the boat, obviously make sure you have in date flares as well but you never know if they could come in handy....

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by BruceB

I intend to set any TEP's off on Nov 5th. I mean, with the size of fireworks and scale of the displays who is going to be able to tell

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Useful training - as I've never had to set a flare off before.

[alystra]

BruceB I intend to set any TEP's off on Nov 5th. I mean, with the size of fireworks and scale of the displays who is going to be able to tell

Originally Posted by spartacus

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Useful training - as I've never had to set a flare off before.

Be very careful with parachute flares. They will still be burning when they hit the ground - or car, or thatched roof . They are recognisable even if fired during a firework display. Still, it might be possible to disappear innocently into the crowd.

[John Kennett]

There was a big distress flare discussion a while back, and a separate one about the law regarding setting them off.

You're unlikely to have a problem firing hand held flares and smokes if you do it sensibly. As alystra says though, the parachute flares have much more potential for trouble.

[crazymac680]

It's a shame about the Coastguard reducing the amount of station that can accept Time Expired Pyrotechnics. However we are talking about potentially very dangerous explosives. The Coastguard have spent millions ensuring that the officers who are recieving damaged and out of date pyro are fully trained and then stored in a safe place until they can be collected by Ramora or the EOD.

Ideally before your flares are out of date you should return them to the chandlers they were purchased. They should have they're own network to dispose of them.

The disposal of TEPs is such a big buisness that the Coastguard just cant afford to have a suitable site on everyones doorstep.