Single-use pyrotechnic marine flares expire and must be replaced approximately every 42 months. Due to their classification as hazardous waste, however, proper disposal of these flares is restricted and extremely expensive as they must be transported as explosives. To properly dispose of just one single-use pyrotechnic marine flare, it can cost anywhere from $10 - $350 per flare. It costs a local jurisdiction anywhere from $14,500 to $28,000 to host just one marine flare collection event, with the costs only rising each year. The high cost of dispose arises from the lack of facilities that will take in marine flares for disposal leading to high transportation costs. Currently, there are only three facilities in the entire country that accept marine flares, one in Missouri, Illinois, and Louisiana. 

The difficulty in disposing of them means boaters often discard their flares in improper ways. Flares are often stored past expiration, tossed in regular garbage, or even thrown into our lakes, rivers, and oceans. Pyrotechnic marine flares contain many toxic chemicals, including perchlorate, that can leech into our drinking water and damage our environment when they are improperly thrown away. Currently in many counties in California, there are no safe disposal options for single-use marine flares. View the webinars and graphics below to learn how you can properly dispose of your single-use flares and get a free or discounted reusable alternative.