Marine Flares are an important part of boating safety. But what do you do with them once they expire? Nova Scotia RCMP will soon be hosting a one-week Marine Flare Collection program to gather any expired flares.
Starting Oct. 15 until Oct. 21, RCMP officers in the Coastal Watch Program and Explosive Disposal Unit will be traveling across Nova Scotia collecting expired Marine Flares from personal/ recreational boaters.
Federal legislation requires all vessels to carry marine flares. In case of an emergency, a distress signal can be sent. The issue becomes what to do with them in the event they’re never used. “Marine Flares do have an expiry date and can become a safety and environmental hazard if left for a period of time,” says Cpl. Brian Moss of the RCMP Coastal Watch Program. “We encourage all boaters to come to one of our collection sites to drop off any expired flares they may have.”
Previously, boaters were asked to take their expired flares to RCMP detachments for disposal. Due to safety concerns, boaters are now asked to take their flares to various collection sites across the province. The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit will be on hand to safely dispose of any expired flares.
This collection program will be at no cost to personal/recreational boaters, but commercial outlets must dispose of flares through the manufacturer.
The complete list of locations, dates and times is indicated below. For additional information, people can visit the RCMP website www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ns or follow Nova Scotia RCMP through social media sites like Facebook (Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia) or Twitter (@RCMPN).
Oct. 21, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tantallon Fire Department: 17 Scholars Road
Cole Harbour: RCMP Detachment, 1171 Cole Harbour Road
Lower Sackville: RCMP Detachment, 711 Old Sackville Road
