OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) announces a one-day collection event for boaters and residents to safely dispose of marine flares at no cost on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 592 Superior Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92663. The disposal of expired flares is crucial to mitigate health and safety risks associated with their presence. OC residents and boat owners are encouraged to participate in this important public service initiative.
According to Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), an estimated 174,000 outdated flares are generated each year by recreational vessels in California. With this large number of unneeded flares generated annually in California, there is a strong need for public education and awareness about proper disposal as well as good disposal options. Marine flares and signal devices are categorized as explosives, posing challenges in their proper disposal. Currently there are no permitted facilities in California that can accept, treat and/or dispose of non-military explosive waste streams.
OCWR welcomes boaters to utilize this limited special opportunity. Participants are invited to transport expired flares in their vehicle trunks. Upon arrival at the drive-through event, designated staff will efficiently collect items from vehicles and securely store them for disposal.
“I invite Orange County residents and boaters to help us keep our oceans clean, and safely dispose of your marine flares at our convenient drive-through event hosted by OC Waste & Recycling,” said Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Fifth District. “With 32 miles of coastline in the Fifth District, we must serve as excellent stewards of our coast to protect our oceans, vital marine ecosystems, and coastal way of life here in Orange County. I hope residents and boaters do their part and take advantage of this special opportunity to properly dispose of marine flares this month.”
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, June 22
- Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Location: 592 Superior Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92663
- Accepted items: Residential boater marine flares and smoke signals from Orange County residents.
- Unaccepted items: No military-grade flares or household waste will be accepted.
“We are excited to organize this free collection event, contributing to the safe removal of hazardous flares from boats and preventing their entry into landfills, having the expired and unspent flares disposed of properly,” stated Tom Koutroulis, Director of OC Waste & Recycling. “The disposal of marine flares often involves significant costs and regulatory hurdles. We are glad to offer this essential service to boaters across the County, to continue protecting public health and the environment.”