Maritime Coastguard Agency
Planned changes to HM Coastguards flare disposal service
From 31 December 2022 HM Coastguard will stop disposing of expired or redundant flares handed in by private individuals. From then, you will need to use a third-party service to dispose of them safely and legally.
The Green Blues Environmental facilities service from British Marine and the Royal Yachting Association will provide contact details of businesses offering disposal services. You will be able to contact the providers directly to discuss your disposal needs.
Until 31 December 2022, you will be able to use the current services offered to dispose of flares.
For more information on the changes see the MIN 687 Changes to how individuals can dispose of marine flares.
Flares and the law
It is an offence to:
- fire flares on land or in a harbour
- fire flares at sea for testing, practice or as fireworks
- dump pyrotechnics at sea
- leave flares to be discovered
Damaged or out of date flares should never be used. They should be disposed of safely as soon as possible.
Disposing of unwanted flares
Only contact HM Coastguard when all other means of disposal have been exhausted. Our facilities are very limited and we can only accept a small number of flares from individuals.
Before contacting HM Coastguard try:
- the place you bought them, they may offer a take back scheme
- marinas, a small charge may apply
- life raft service stations, some offer a service
- the local council, they may be accepted at local recycling centres
If you are still unable to dispose of flares you can then contact your nearest coastguard licensed site. We will advise if we can help. We do not provide a collection service and we are unable to accept flares from commercial organisations.
HM Coastguard has no responsibility for disposing of flares. We accept them at our own discretion and our storage facilities are limited. Only some of our locations are licensed to store flares.
On contacting a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) you will be asked:
- who you have previously contacted to arrange disposal
- how many flares you need to dispose of
- how old they are
- what condition they are in
If we can help, we will arrange for a time for you to deliver the flares. You may be expected to travel a long distance, or wait several weeks depending on the facilities available in your area.
Do not turn up at HM Coastguard premises without prior agreement. The majority of coastguard locations are not licensed and you will be turned away.
Do not collect flares from others. We only accept a reasonable number of flares from individuals in line with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) carriage recommendations. We do not accept flares from commercial organisations.
Do not leave flares to be discovered. Its against the law and dangerous. You may be prosecuted if you leave flares outside coastguard, RNLI, police, or fire service premises. Flares may be picked up by children who could be seriously injured or killed as a result.
Do not put flares in household rubbish, garden waste or public litter bins. They can cause extensive damage to refuse collection facilities and may injure persons who come into contact with them.
Contact details for licensed coastguard disposal sites
Do not turn up at HM Coastguard premises without prior agreement.
Scotland
MRCC Aberdeen
Licensed sites:
- Buchan coastguard operations base
- Inverness coastguard operations base
- St Andrews coastguard operations base
Telephone: 01224 592 334
MRCC Shetland
Telephone: 01595 692 976
MRCC Stornoway
Telephone: 01851 702 013
Northern Ireland
MRCC Belfast
Telephone: 02891 463 933
MRCC Belfast
Additional licensed site: Girvan coastguard rescue equipment store (Scotland)
Telephone: 02891 463 933
Wales
MRCC Holyhead
Telephone: 01407 762 051
MRCC Milford Haven
Telephone: 01646 690 909
South Coast
MRCC Dover
Telephone: 01304 210 008
Fareham Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC)
Licensed site: Daedalus training centre
Telephone: 02392 552 100
MRCC Falmouth
Licensed site: Paignton coastguard operations base
Telephone: 01326 317 575
RNLI Headquarters Poole
Telephone: 01202 663 283
North England
MRCC Humber
Telephone: 01262 672 317
MRCC Humber
Additional licensed site: North Norfolk coastguard operations base
Telephone: 01262 672 317
Liverpool coastguard operations base
Telephone: 01519 313 341
London
Thames Coastguard operations base
Telephone: 01255 675 518
Last updated 13 October 2022 +show all updates
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Information added on changes to the HM Coastguard's flare disposal service. Changes come into effect from 31 December 2022.
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RNLI telephone number updated.
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Updated contact telephone number for RNLI Poole.
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First published.