Expired flare collection

Published on 17 December 2018

Local boaties who missed the expired flares collection in April this year can soon take advantage of another visit by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to the MidCoast region, coming up in January.

The mobile collection program will roll out for the first time in 2019, offering convenient and free disposal of marine flares that have reached expiry, and serving as a reminder to boat owners that flares disposed of incorrectly can be hazardous.

For MidCoast boaties, mobile collection points in this round will be available on Thursday, 10 January in Taree (Queen Elizabeth Park) from 8am-10am, followed by the Crowdy Head boat ramp from 12pm-2pm and then at the Forster boat ramp from 4.30pm-6.30pm.

Marine flares are used in boating emergencies as a signal for help, and to assist with establishing a vessel’s location. Most flares have a use-by date of three years from manufacture, and penalties apply where flares are not replaced within their expiry period. It is also an offence to set off flares except in the case of an emergency.

“Many people think flares can be placed into their general garbage collection”, explained Amy Hill, MidCoast Council’s Waste Program Coordinator.

“But flares are highly flammable and can be dangerous to the collectors, they can cause fire and damage to property, and they’re hazardous for the environment if they end up in our landfills.”

Local boat owners are encouraged to regularly inspect their on-board flares, check the expiry dates, and take advantage of the RMS mobile collection program in January 2019.

For more information, and to view collection locations in other coastal locations, visit www.rms.nsw.gov.au/flares