The RCMP will be collecting expired marine flares at the Digby detachment.
Officers in the Coastal Watch Program and Explosive Disposal Unit are traveling across Nova Scotia collecting expired marine flares from personal and recreational boaters this week only.
They are in Digby on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Federal legislation requires all vessels to carry marine flares to be able to send a distress signal in case of an emergency.
“Marine flares do have an expiry date and can become a safety and environmental hazard if left for a period of time,” says Cpl. Brian Moss of the RCMP Coastal Watch Program. “We are encouraging all boaters to come to one of our collection sites and drop off your flares.”
A member of the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit will be on hand but won’t actually be disposing of the flares here. The RCMP will take them to a disposal site.
This collection program is free for personal and recreational boaters but commercial outlets must dispose of flares through their manufacturer.
Moss says he is not sure what will happen next spring; either there will be legislation requiring anyone who sells flares to take back expired ones for disposal or the RCMP will run another collection program.
Other collection sites include Kingston/ Greenwood on Oct. 18, and Yarmouth on Oct. 19.
