Doing the right thing with out-of-date and unwanted marine flares

Published on 05 April 2024

With another great summer out on the water behind us, Snowy Monaro Regional Council is reminding local boaters and boat-owners about the proper handling and disposal of expired or unwanted marine flares.

Maritime flares are required safety equipment for recreational vessels on NSW waters, helping rescuers locate people and vessels in an emergency. Most flares have a three-year use by date, and must be replaced before they expire.

Flares contain explosive and flammable material that can easily start a fire or cause a serious injury, and because of these risks, the law in NSW requires that flares are only disposed of at an authorised collection site.

Expired and unwanted flares cannot be disposed of in household bins, public bins, or at any waste facility (tips, transfer stations, and banks of bins).

How to dispose of your out-of-date and unwanted flares

The ACT (Canberra) and NSW Governments both offer authorised disposal services.

• Canberra:
  A drop-off service is available year-round at the ACT Firearms Registry, located in Mitchell on the north side of Canberra.

You must contact the Registry before your visit.

Call (02) 5126 9076 or email ACTFirearmsRegistry@afp.gov.au

• Coastal NSW:
  The NSW Government offers a mobile flare collection service in coastal areas from November to April each year.

Visit https://qrco.de/NSWflareinfo or call 13 12 36 for more information.

Protect yourself, your property, and your community by doing the right thing with your marine flares. Only use them in an emergency, and always dispose of old and expired flares at an authorised disposal service.

Visit https://qrco.de/wasteinfoSMRC for more information on waste and recycling in the Snowy Monaro. Our Tricky Waste Items page has all the details on how to dispose of dangerous, uncommon, and specialist items like marine flares.