Del Norte event collects 200 lbs of expired marine flares; staff urges reusable alternatives and manufacturer responsibility

Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority staff reported that a Nov. 8 marine flare collection event at the Del Norte County Transfer Station recovered 200 pounds of expired pyrotechnic marine flares and distributed Coast Guard-approved electronic flares to participants.

Staff told the board the recovered material equates to about 302 individual flares. Citing a Rhode Island Department of Health study, staff said one pyrotechnic marine flare can contaminate up to 240,000 gallons of water and estimated the event prevented the potential pollution of more than 75,500,000 gallons of water.

The director (S1) described pyrotechnic flares as hazardous waste and explosives that typically expire about every 42 months, making them difficult and costly to dispose of safely. "At our November event, we collected 200 pounds of expired flares," S1 said. "Every participant received an e flare." The director added that disposal can cost roughly $65 per flare and that grant funding supported the recent collection, not local tax dollars.

Staff said collecting expired flares addresses fire, explosion and environmental risks, and noted that alternatives such as electronic flares are nonexplosive, reusable and now U.S. Coast Guard approved. The authority partnered with the California Product Stewardship Council, CalRecycle, California State Parks and Coastal Commissions, BoatUS, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Clean Harbors to stage the event and ship collected material for consolidated disposal.

Board members asked whether the collection accepted commercial loads and how current pound totals compared to earlier events; staff said the first event collected larger hoarded volumes, participation varied by outreach, and that commercial material is not supposed to be accepted under the grant though large loads were handled when brought in.

Staff emphasized the event relied on grant funding and partnerships. "Without grant support, this type of collection would be financially unreasonable for local governments," S1 said.

The authority said the collection yielded brand and type data that will inform future planning and statewide hazardous-material strategy. Staff also noted remaining logistical issues: California currently has only one county (Alameda) with permitted storage/magazine capacity for such explosives, requiring consolidated transport for permanent storage and disposal. The authority said broader producer responsibility legislation and wider adoption of electronic flares would reduce long-term costs and hazards.

The board received the report; no action was required on item 6.3.