Keep old flares out of waste to prevent fires

Published on 07 February 2023

Corangamite Shire residents are reminded to do the right thing when disposing of old flares.

Council Waste and Sustainability Officer Jessica Maxwell said expired flares that wound up in landfill or recycling bins could go off when compressed against other materials and have caused fires at landfill sites.

“Please don’t throw out your expired flares at Council Transfer Stations or in kerbside bins,” Ms Maxwell said.

“Expired flares contain explosive materials and can be a hazard in the home as they may self-combust.

“They can be disposed of safely at most police stations, but call your local station to confirm they have the facilities to accept them.

“If a flare is past its expiry date, you can’t rely on it in an emergency. Flares are legally required to be “in date” on all boats. It makes sense to check them regularly because they could save your life.

“They only have a lifespan of three years and expiry dates are stamped on the side of each flare.

“It’s important to make sure you have current flares in your boat and buy new ones before they reach their use-by-dates.

They should be stored in an accessible dry place, away from fuel and other combustibles.

Maritime Safety Victoria runs FlareSafe drop-off events to help with safe disposal of expired flares. Follow Maritime Safety Victoria on Facebook to find out about upcoming FlareSafe events.

For more information on flare disposal, go to the Maritime Safety Victoria website or Facebook page, or call us on 5593 7100.