From 2023, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will no longer offer a flare disposal service for boat owners.

Instead, those with flares which are damaged or at the end of their life will need to use a registered disposal service provider.

The RYA and British Marine’s joint environmental programme, The Green Blue, lists contact details of registered disposal service providers.

So far, 21 are listed for the UK. There are none listed for Northern Ireland or the North East of England.

The MCA said if there are no providers close by, then flares may be disposed of at the place they were bought, at local marinas, through local authorities or other waste disposal businesses.

Some marine business run disposal events across the country, usually at marinas and harbours. Premier Marinas regularly holds flare disposal days.

Small quantities of flares, between 6-12, can be transported in your own vehicle to a third-party disposal service provider for destruction.

‘This is provided that you’ve made all reasonable efforts to pack and secure such devices to reduce any health or safety risks to you or anyone else,’ said the MCA.

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