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Find out how to safely dispose of pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics in this case means marine distress flares / signals.
| Do Not | Throw pyrotechnics over board. See note 1 below |
| Do Not | Throw pyrotechnics in the bin. |
| Do Not | Use any pyrotechnics, which have been lying in salt water. See note 1 below |
| Do Not | Fire them off except in case of emergency. see note below 2 |
Note 1 Salt water causes the flares internal aluminium casing to corrode and swell, it also makes the propellant unstable therefore if you pick on up it may go off of its own accord and if you are holding it, it may explode as it cannot exit the casing via the top as it is stuck in the casing. These get washed up on beaches & can cause injuries to young children who pick them up.
Note 2 This not only wastes emergency services time but could delay the response to a real emergency.
It is also a criminal offence under the The Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations, punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine. The Regulations and a Prosecution
So what can you do to safely dispose of marine pyrotechnics!
Hand them back to the Ships Chandler when you buy new ones as they have their own network and facilities to dispose of them.
If all else fails contact your local Coastguard MRCC / MRSC and they will arrange for you to take them to your local coastguard station where they will accept them for disposal. Note the MRCC / MRSC cannot accept out of date flares for disposal for health and safety reasons and the Coastguard cannot pick them up from your house due to not knowing the condition/history of them.
Check the phone book under Coastguard
MRCC Aberdeen - 01224 592334
Point of interest. The most out of date pyrotechnic we have disposed of was 27 years old.
It is now 38 years old as it went out of date in March 1968 (added 11/2006)
Would you feel safe firing that off in an emergency.
