FLARE DISPOSAL

where can i dispose OF expired Flares? 

   

 

Disposing of expired or unwanted flares requires incineration at an authorized facility. They can’t be thrown into the trash because flares contain perchlorate, which has been known to cause cancer. It is also illegal to light flares in non-emergency situations as this creates an expensive search and rescue scenario.

The document below contains all of the known flare disposal locations that have been verified by the Sea Tow Foundation as allowing recreational boaters to drop off expired or unwanted pyrotechnic marine flares. These locations are the result of multiple nationwide surveys of six different audiences conducted by the Sea Tow Foundation in late 2021 and early 2022. Please Note: these locations have not been verified for commercial boaters or governmental agencies in need of flare disposal options,. It is strongly suggested that they contact these locations to ask about flare disposal or find alternative options. A fee may be imposed for these groups as well.
You can enlarge, download and print the document by clicking here or on the image to open the pdf file.

If your state does not have a flare disposal facility (at least 36 states don’t have any available), the Sea Tow Foundation encourages boaters to follow these 3 steps to look for an alternative flare disposal facility in their local area:

1. Contact the Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility in your area and ask if they accept marine flares for disposal. This could be a landfill, transfer station or another location. Search online using the phrase “household hazardous waste facility near me” for a list.
   
   
2. If you find that step 1 doesn’t work, contact your local fire department and ask if they accept marine flares for disposal.  Search online using the phrase “fire department near me” and be sure to call the non-emergency number.
   
   
3. As a final option, contact the boating enforcement agency in your state/territory and ask them for recommendations for flare disposal in your state/territory.

The Sea Tow Foundation is committed to helping to educate boaters on the safe use of flares as well as encouraging boaters to purchase E-Flares instead of pyrotechnic flares to avoid the need to dispose of them in the future. For more information on flares, please visit https://www.boatingsafety.com/page/FlareEducation. 

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flare disposal collection events

As we learn of one-time only flare disposal events, we will post them here.

Multiple Calfornia Locations in November 2025

Do you know about a flare disposal collection event in your area or a disposal facility in your area?

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